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WALTER S. NEWHALL 

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A MEMOIR. 



^ATS. Saral^ (^BiAtUr) W'sW 



' Whom neither shape of danger can dismay, 
Nor thought of tender happiness betray ; 
Who, not content that former worth stand fast, 
Looks forward, persevering to the last, 
From well to better, daily self-surpast : 
"Who, whether praise of him must walk the earth 
Forever, and to noble deeds give birth, * 

Or he must fall, to sleep without his fame, 
And leave a dead, unprofitable name, — 
Finds comfort in himself and in his cause ; 
And, while the mental mist is gathering, draws 
His breath in confidence of Heaven's applause ; 
This is the Happy Warrior ; this is He 
That everv man in arms should -wish to be." 




PHILADELPHIA 



e 



PUBLISHED FOR THE BENEFIT OP 

THE SANITARY COMMISSION. 
18 64. 



£ 60 I 



Entered, accmding to Act <if Con^Tess. in tlie year 18r4, 

B y C. SHERMAN, SON k CO., 
For the U. S. Sanitary Commission, 

Ml the rieik"s Office uf the District Court for tlu' EitHtern District of 
Pennsylvania. 



^6 i-U 




CAXrON PRESS OF C. SHERMAN, SON ic CO. 



TO THE OFFICERS AND MEN 



®l)irir Hegimcnt |)cun6BlDania lloluntcer Caoalrp, 



THIS MEMOIR OF A LATE COMRADE 



IS DEDICATED. 



INTRODUCTION. 



This brief Memoir was drawn up at the request 
of a manager of the Metropolitan Fair in aid of 
the Sanitary Commission. It was thought that a 
sketch of the career of the most distinguished 
young men who have died in the present struggle 
for law and right would interest all who sympa- 
thize with the cause, and that the story of their 
upright lives might be an example to those who 
emulate their brave deeds. In every war — above 
all, in one like this — there are countless sublime 
acts which are never heard of, hosts of heroes 
among the nameless dead. "Their works do fol- 
low them," and are written on high in characters 
which the whole world shall read at the last great 
day. Until then their stories are not for us, and 
we must turn to the register of those who had 
made themselves known before they fell. 

The subject of the following pages was of that 
number, and his parents felt that they could not 
refuse to the use of his country the record of the 



IV INTRODUCTION. 

life be gave in her service. The narrative has 
been compiled from his own letters, placed at the 
disposal of the editor by his family, and from the 
recollections of his friends and fellow officers. 
There has been no attempt to embellish the story; 
it stands in its simplicity, j)ointing to a moral as 
old as Time, that the best Christian is the bravest 
soldier, and the purest life has the most peace- 
ful end. 

(lERMANTOWN, March, 1864. 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 
His Boyhood, ...... 



PAGE 



CHAPTER II. 
The First Call to Arms 2.3 

C'HAPTER III. 
The Campaign in Missouri, 3H 

CHAPTER IV. 
The Peninsula -VI 

CHAPTER Y. 

Thk First Winter in the Field, ..... 77 

CHAPTER VI. 
The Raids, H9 

CHAPTER VII. 
Ho.wE Invaded 102 

CHAPTER VIII. 
The (tuerrillas, . . . . . . .114 

CHAPTER IX. 
The End, 13;^ 



• There is no light in earth or heaven 

But the cold light of stars, 
And the first watch of night is given 

To the red planet Mars. 

' Is it the tender star of love ? 
The star of love and dreams ? 

no ! from yon blue tent above 
A hero's armor gleams. 

' And earnest thoughts within me rise 

As I behold afar, 
Suspended in the evening skies. 
The shield of that red star. 

' star of strength I I see thee stand 

And smile upon my pain : 
Thou beckonest with thy mailed hand, 
And I am strong again. 

'Within my breast there is no light 
But the cold light of stars ; 

1 give the first watch of the night 
To the red planet Mars." 



MEMOIR OF 

WALTER S. NEWHALL. 



CHAPTER I. 

HIS BOYHOOD. 

" Iron-jointed, supple-sinewed, 
They shall dive and they shall run." 

"From their fifth to their twentieth year, they instruct their 
children in three things only, — the art of the bow, horsemanship, 
and a strict regard to truth." 

Walter Symonds Newh.\ll was born in Phila- 
delphia, October 31st, 1841. He was the third of 
ten sons, of the good old Mayflower stock, sea- 
soned in the War of Independence. His parents 
moved to Germantown, Pennsylvania, when he was 
only seven years old, and that to him henceforward 
was home, and the dearest spot on earth. From 
earliest childhood, he showed most of the peculiar- 
ities which distinguished him as a man. Warmth 
of heart, love of fun, scorn of pain, indomitable will, 
and perfect truthfulness, always characterized him. 
Pride and temper, too, the "foes within," which 
he fought so hard in after years, were not slow in 
2 



10 WALTER S. NEW HALL. 

showing themselves. He was easily led by the 
silken cord of love, but could not be driven by 
any means ; he resisted resolutely, and never gave 
up while he saw a chance of carrying his point ; 
but strong sense and practical intelligence also 
early gave him the faculty of perceiving when this 
was hopeless. He was brought up with a reverence 
for authority, which he always preserved, notwith- 
standing his extreme independence and self-re- 
liance, and which served to make him so good a 
soldier, able both to command and to obey. He 
was a manly child from his very cradle, full of 
spirit and fond of active games, but withal his 
heart was full of tenderness. He was always un- 
demonstrative and reserved, shy of speaking his 
feelings, and even of having them known; but 
they welled over to his mother and baby- sister, 
with whom his gentleness and affection were like 
a woman's, and his strong love for his father, 
brothers and friends, found expression in other 
ways than by words. Even as a school-boy he was 
fond of little children, and took great pains to 
amuse and interest them, listening to their stories, 
and telling them stories in return, that left them 
with eyes and mouth wide open, and their sense of 
the marvellous greatly heightened; in travelling 
he would sit beside them in the cars, make their 
acquaintance, soothe their fears, learn their history, 
astonish them with some tale of wonder, and part 



HIS BOYHOOD. Jl 

from them as if they were old cronies. This is an 
unusual trait in a bluJBf boy' Avith his head full of 
town-ball and cricket. When ten or twelve years 
of age, he went Avith his father to see the dramatized 
version of " Uncle Tom's Cabin;" he was amused 
and excited at first, but as the interest of the plot 
increased and the scenes became pathetic and pain- 
ful, he was affected and distressed; he struggled 
with it as any boy will, shy and ashamed of his 
emotion, choking the sighs and gulping down the 
tears, until at last, unable to contain himself, he 
exclaimed in a strangled voice, between wrath and 
grief: " What do they act such things for? They 
make me sick;" and requested to be taken from 
the theatre. His father, who saw that he was in 
a state of great agitation, took him home, and he 
was quite ill from excitement for a day or tAVO 
afterwards. 

He was not fond of study, and never particu- 
larly distinguished himself at school ; but he was 
the hero of the play-ground. He had a real pas- 
sion for out-of-door amusements, and excelled in 
every athletic exercise. He was pre-eminent among 
his playfellows in all games, whether of speed, 
strength, or skill ; the heartiness with which he 
entered into the sport, and which never failed or 
flagged, made each eager to secure him for his 
side. Yet this superiority excited no jealousy ; it 
was felt and owned, and his companions delighted 



12 WALTER S. NEWHALL. 

in it. One who was his earliest playfellow, as well 
as the dearest friend of his later years, says : " No 
boy ever spoke ill of him; no one ever had any- 
thing unkind to say." And so it was throughout 
his life, from the play-ground to the cricket-field, 
and at last in the camp. An older man, who had 
seen much of him under the very circumstances 
to test the presence of such qualities, remarked 
that Walter's own perfect generosity and magna- 
nimity seemed to influence all those who came in 
contact with him ; his success stirred no envy, no 
ill-nature, no spite ; petty feelings withered away 
before his noble, genial disposition. He was al- 
ways popular, and his good nature, high spirits, 
unselfishness and whole-hear tedness, were enough 
to account for it. Behind all his gayety and 
frankness there was an impenetrable wall of re- 
serve. He had faults, but no foibles ; and such 
characters, though they must command the respect, 
d(3 not usually win the affection and sympathy of 
ordinary persons. Yet he possessed both in a 
greater degree than any man or woman we have 
ever known. There was an undefinable greatness 
about him, both as boy and man, that made a last- 
ing impression on all who ever saw him. 

Town life, and even the half rural existence he 
led at home, were not free enough for his love of 
nature, and of country sports and out-of-door pur- 
suits. The greatest enjoyment of his boyhood was 



HIS BOYHOOD. 13 

in his yearly visits to the ~\yikl and beautiful scenery 
of the Northern States. He passed several sum- 
mers among the mountains and lakes of Maine, 
swimming, riding, fishing, shooting, and leading 
the life of a hunter, wading in the trout-streams, 
and camping out in the woods. His coming w^as 
always hailed with joy by the kind and hospitable 
friends with w^hom he made his home there ; his 
good humor, fun, and high spirits made him the 
very life of the house, and the keen zest with which 
he entered into all the pursuits of his hosts de- 
lighted them, particularly as they had not looked 
for such healthy tastes and hardy habits in a " city 
boy." He continued to return to these favorite 
haunts long after he had left school-days and 
childhood behind him ; still turning with eagerness 
from his desk in the counting-room to the beautiful 
scenery and athletic sports which were a necessity 
of his nature. 

He was about twelve years old when the boys 
of his neighborhood began to take up the game of 
cricket. For some years there had been a club of 
older men in Philadelphia, who played regularly 
at Camden, New Jersey ; now a Germantown club 
was formed, and created a great excitement 
among the youth. Several of the Newhalls were 
among the first members, and Walter's singular 
excellence in all games of strength and skill im- 
mediately showed itself in this. He threw him- 



14 WALTER S. NEWHALL. 

self into it with his usual ardor, and his career as 
a cricketer is a chapter bj itself in his short story. 
The game became quite a feature in Philadelphia 
life. The interests of that respectable city are 
neither so various nor so numerous, perhaps, as 
those of some other towns of the same size ; but 
it is surprising to see, when an idea penetrates the 
community, how completely it pervades it. Cricket 
became the fashion, the great excitement and chief 
topic of a large class, for six months of the year. 
Everybody soon belonged to one club or another: 
the Philadelphia included those between twenty- 
one and thirty-five years of age, professional men 
and men of business ; the GermantoAvn Club was 
composed of a younger set, college lads and school- 
boys. Shortly afterwards another club was formed, 
called the Young America, which was made up of 
all the younger brothers and boys considered too 
young to belong to the Germantown, — mere chil- 
dren. A number of others, the Olympian, Delphian, 
&c., sprang up in different directions, and the rage 
became so universal, that parties of small ragged 
boys, hardly out of petticoats, were to be seen with 
sticks for bats, and stones for balls, setting up their 
wickets on rough lots, covered with ashes and 
oyster-shells. The young ladies of the society 
shared in the excitement, and were violent parti- 
sans of the different clubs and individual players. 
Whenever a match or even a game was going on. 



HIS BOYHOOD. 15 

rows of sympathizing spectators sat on the fences 
which surrounded the ground, hour after hour, with 
the sun on their heads, through the long hot day. 
Of course, where the interest in the game was so 
general, a jfine player became a very conspicuous 
and important personage, much noticed, much flat- 
tered, and consequently, sometimes a little spoiled. 
Walter Newhall distinguished himself immediately, 
and attracted a great deal of attention by his ex- 
treme grace and masterly play, which his youth 
made the more remarkable. As the clubs im- 
proved, year after year, by constant practice, he 
kept pace with their progress, always maintaining his 
pre-eminence, until his long-established local repu- 
tation spread among those who were interested in 
the game, throughout the whole country. But the 
praise and notice Avhich were lavished upon him 
never affected him in the slightest degree ; he was 
not in the least personally elated by success, nor 
mortified by failure ; his only feeling was for the 
victory or defeat of his side, with which he wholly 
identified himself. His best moral qualities were 
displayed on the field, — cheerfulness, generosity, 
endurance, perseverance, and modesty. He never 
grew weary or lost heart, and was the soul of his 
party. He was noted for his generosity in sacri- 
ficing himself, when he could do so without losing 
sight of the interests of his side, to give another 
player a chance. When the fate of the game was 



16 WALTER S. NEWHALL. 

doubtful, however, he was alw^ays anxious for the 
best place, having great self-reliance, and full con- 
sciousness of his own superiority. Yet there was 
no strutting as cock of the walk ; he took his place 
in the simple, unassuming manner which belonged 
to him in all circumstances, a result of mingled 
pride and modesty. 

The qualities needed for a good cricketer are a 
quick eye, a cool head, a steady hand, a strong arm, 
a swift foot, and an active body; good humor, 
equanimity, perseverance, self-reliance, and disci- 
pline. The effect of all this upon the physical and 
moral tone of the young men was very soon appa- 
rent ; they grew muscular and robust, and their 
characters gained in manliness. Since the war has 
called away so many of these young champions, 
that the pleasant fields and lanes about our homes 
are deserted and dreary, it has been a subject of 
curiosity to ascertain whether the cricket-field had 
furnished its quota, and it may not be uninterest- 
ing to those in favor of manly sports to know the 
result. Of the first eleven of the Philadelphia 
Club but nine Avere Americans, and seven of these 
went to the war ; of the first eleven of the German- 
town Club (those who habitually played against 
the Philadelphia), eight are or have been in the 
service ; of the Young Americans (who beat the 
Germantown boys in the spring of 1859), the 
whole first eleven have borne arms ; and of those 



HIS BOYHOOD. 17 

who played the Family Match, as it was called, the 
Newhalls and Wisters versus first eleven of the 
Germantown (a game saved to the "Families," by 
Walter Newhall's masterly batting), the whole 
eleven of the winning side, five Newhalls and six 
Wisters, were in the army at the same time. So 
many other members of these and all the clubs are 
or have been in service that there has been almost 
no playing for the last three years. The breaking 
out of the war was the breaking up of cricket in 
Philadelphia. 

Walter Newhall did his work with the same 
heartiness and thoroughness with which he entered 
into sport. At sixteen he left school and entered 
the counting-room. Though his duties there could 
hardly have been congenial to him, — as his enjoy- 
ment of such a different life afterwards proved, — 
he performed them with great alacrity and ability. 
He was never afraid of work, and bent his strong 
will to excel in this as in other things. His ambi- 
tion seemed to be to show his seniors that when 
anything was to be done he could be relied upon. 
His mind had a practical bent, and his judgment 
and common sense were remarkable, which stood 
him in good stead in this as well as in every other 
position. 

After about a twelvemonth at the desk, he took 
up the study of chemistry, which was more to his 
taste, and entered the laboratory of Messrs. Booth 



18 WALTER S. NEW HALL. 

& Garrett, where he remained for two years, until 
the war broke out. There, as everywhere else, 
his good humor and high spirits rendered him a 
favorite with both his instructors and fellow- 
students. His fun was inexhaustible and irresisti- 
ble ; he diffused a spirit of life and mirth wherever 
he went. His fondness for life in the open air and 
out-of-door amusements was unabated ; whenever 
he could take a holiday or a half-holiday, he rushed 
back to cricket with more zest than ever. 

The last year of his happy home-life was a bril- 
liant one in the annals of American cricket. There 
were a number of great matches played between the 
best clubs in the country, and with the Canadians, 
and the famous All England Eleven. Walter never 
left the Germantown Club, but was chosen by the 
different committees, to play on almost all these 
public occasions. As a first-class player, his ave- 
rage for this, his last season, was larger than that 
of any cricketer known in the United States. He 
"went to bat" thirty-two times, and scored five 
hundred and forty-nine runs, making an average of 
seventeen in each innings ; he was also distinguished 
as a "back-stop," a difficult and responsible post, 
in which, however, his prowess cannot be stated 
in figures. His highest match score was a hundred 
and five runs, but he repeatedly made upwards of 
fifty. He distinguished himself constantly, espe- 
cially in the matches with the All England Eleven. 



HIS BOYHOOD. 19 

At the match played with them at Hohoken, New 
Jersey, early in October, 1859, he made the second 
best score on his side. A week or tAvo later, when 
playing with the same Eleven in Philadelphia, his 
" fielding" was so fine, that one of the Englishmen 
being disabled, they applied for Walter to take his 
place and make up their number. The following 
June, 1860, he played three matches in the course 
of one week. On the first, against the St. George's 
Cricket Club of New York, accounted the best in 
the country, he made fifty-nine in one game ; one 
of the finest American scores on record, from fif- 
teen to twenty being fair average play. On the 
two following days he made twenty-five against the 
New York Club, the highest score on his side. He 
was as fresh and as strong as ever at the end of 
this tremendous week, and ready for another match, 
while most of the cricketers were exhausted or 
really injured by the exertion. A number of base- 
ball players were present at these matches, and 
noticing with how much grace and power he threw 
the ball (the great point in their game), they 
challenged him to try against their best man. He 
could hardly decline, and threw the ball over one 
hundred and thirteen yards, — several yards further 
than the base-ball player. The latter and his 
friends seeming to think this was a sort of pheno- 
menon, that could not be repeated, urged another 
trial. Walter said, in his usual careless manner : 



20 WALTER S. NEAV HALL. 

"Very well, I'm going to dinner; when you've 
beaten that throw, call me and I'll try again," and 
walked off. But he was not called. In the course 
of these matches he also, on two successive days, 
struck the cricket-ball over the high board fence 
Avhich bounds the Iloboken ground, a thing which 
had never been done before, even by the All Eng- 
land Eleven. On the first occasion it was pro- 
nounced accidental by the other side, but when he 
repeated the feat, they had nothing to say. 

There is an annual match between the American 
and English on the 4th of July, which excites great 
interest among cricketers ; with whom it is known 
as the Home International. Walter had played 
on this match for several years, and in 18G0 he 
made one of the best scores at it, and in the 
course of the same week two remarkable ones, in 
matches between Germantown and 'New York, and 
Philadelphia versus Newark. About the same time 
he again played against the St. George with great 
distinction. These prolonged exertions, this put- 
ting forth the utmost strength and speed, day after 
day, in the hottest weather, never exhausted or 
over-fatigued him, and early the following month 
he was in another great match played at New York 
by the American against the Canadians. He had 
been unfortunate the previous year in a similar 
match at Toronto, and now amazed the Canadians 
by scoring thirty-eight runs, the highest made by 



HIS BOYHOOD. 21 

any one on either side. This was one of his greatest 
days on the cricket-field, and it was one of the last. 
But when he left the scene of so many youthful 
triumphs for a far dijBFerent field, where he was to 
win fame in sterner ways, he desired that his bat 
should be kept until the day when he might go 
back to it, and to his old life, and hang up forever 
the sabre, for which he now forsook them. 

Before turning the bright and uneventful page 
of Walter's boyhood, it is meet and right to speak 
of certain influences which had their full share in 
developing his moral nature, and of which his 
character and conduct bore the unmistakable stamp. 
The intercourse between his parents and their chil- 
dren Avas always remarkably free. None of the 
sons had any secrets from their father, who in 
return treated them with the utmost confidence, 
and an equality, which in no wise hurt his parental 
authority. He was the companion of his boys, 
and entered into all their plans and pleasures with 
an interest hardly second to their own. Truth 
was the virtue which he inculcated above all others, 
and it was the strongest feature of Walter's cha- 
racter. He never told a falsehood in his life, and 
though he might displease his parents he never 
deceived them. They felt that they could trust 
him implicitly, and consequently placed a confidence 
in him which kept alive the keenest sense of honor 
and responsibility on his part. He was brought 



22 WALTER S. NEWH ALL. 

up with a profound respect for religion, and from 
an early age went regularly to church and Sunday 
school. He never spoke of his religious feelings, — 
he never spoke of any of his feelings, — and he 
detested and ridiculed cant, which he was quick to 
detect in every guise ; but his life proved that the 
teachings of the church and of his home had sunk 
deep into his heart. By the universal testimony 
of those who saw him year after year, at the times 
when all restraint was thrown off, his companions 
on the cricket-field, his fellow-students in the labora- 
tory, and his comrades in camp, no profane or 
impure word ever fell from his lips, and in the midst 
of his magnificent manhood, he led a blameless life. 
If any boy should chance to read this brief re- 
cord of a boy's life, let him lay this to heart. 
Walter Newhall was no child of sickly sentimental- 
ism, or unreal precocious piety, no would-be saint ; 
he was the merriest and bravest of boys, the fore- 
most in fun and frolic, the hero of the play-ground, 
a prince of good-fellows. He could play ten-pins 
and billiards as well as ball and cricket ; he could 
ride and swim and shoot ; he was the very type of 
gallant youth, — and yet he was reverent, temperate, 
chaste as an ideal knight. The crowning grace of 
his perfect manhood was his Christian purity. 



FIR ST CALL TO ARMS. 23 



CHAPTER II. 

FIRST CALL TO ARMS. 

"As gentle and as jocund as to jest 
Go I to fight. Truth hath a quiet breast." 

" Young knights and squires, a lighter train, 
Practised their chargers on the plain, 
By aid of hands, of leg, and rein, 

Each warlike feat to show ; 
To pass, to wheel, the croup to gain, 
And high curvett, that not in vain 
The sword-sway might descend amain 
On foeman's casque below." 

The storm which had been brewing so long burst 
at last, in April, 1861. The flag was fired upon, 
Fort Sumter surrendered, and the news rang 
through the land that the war had begun. For a 
moment every one held their breath, not knowing 
what was to follow ; then came the President's pro- 
clamation, and the whole North rose with a shout. 
For one day the excitement in Philadelphia was 
turbulent and dangerous. Thousands of every 
class assembled, furious at the news of the surren- 
der, swearing vengeance on the disunionists and 
disaffected. They marched through the streets, 



24 WALTER S. NEW HALL. 

their number swelling as they went, and surrounded 
the houses of those known to sympathize with 
the South, demanding that the Star-spangled 
Banner should be displayed from the windows. 
The leading secessionists fled for their lives, and 
did not dare to show their faces for some days. 
No blood was shed, and no outrage was committed 
beyond knocking down a few persons in the crowd, 
and demolishing the office of a newspaper called 
the Palmetto Flag. It was no common mob; 
crowds of decent and respectable citizens mingled 
with the rougher throng. It was a popular de- 
monstration, and no violence was intended or per- 
petrated, but the people were fearfully excited. A 
touch would have snapped their restraint, and riot 
must have followed. The Mayor pacified them by 
a sensible, moderate speech, and most of them 
dispersed quietly ; the rest he sent away authori- 
tatively, having a strong body of police in reserve. 
The President's Proclamation appeared on the 
next day and had an excellent efi'ect ; it opened a 
channel for all this fervor, and infused a life and 
cheerfulness into everybody that had been long 
unknown. The Governor of Pennsylvania instantly 
issued a spirited reply, and there was but one sub- 
ject of thought and conversation. Business almost 
stopped. The streets were filled with a crowd of 
idle, eager, hurrying, lounging, talking, listening 
people, of every age, sex, and condition, men and 



FIRST CALLTO ARMS. 25 

women, "who had never met before, accosting each 
other with breathless questions. Every buihling 
was hung and draped with the Stars and Stripes, 
as if for some grand procession, and the long straight 
perspective of the streets was broken by the waving 
folds of innumerable flags and banners. The shop 
windows made a gay show, the wares being grouped 
together in the national tri-color. Wherever there 
was a bulletin-board, there was a jam of people 
trying to read the last telegraphic despatch. The 
reports were numerous and incredible, and though 
no one believed, every one was eager to hear them. 
The only real intelligence was the stirring ac- 
counts of the simultaneous rising of the people in 
obedience to the summons of the Government. The 
regular troops from New England and New York 
were passing through the city all day and all night. 
Enlisting and drilling had begun, and every man, 
young or old,, was joining some one of the countless 
^companies. The old established bodies of militia 
filled up at once, and were in . hourly expectation 
of being ordered off. Farewells .were exchanged, oh 
every side, and with this leave-taking the agony 
of the coming years began. 

The President's first' call fpr troops was .published 
on the 15th of April. Walter Newhall was among 
the first to respond, readily, cheerily, heartily. 
Single-minded as he was, he saw but one answer to 
such a summons, and as usual, his answer was in 
3 



26 WALTER S. NEWHALL. 

action. Two days afterwards, on the ITtli, lie 
wrote to a young friend: "We want to raise a 
cavalry company of Germantown boys, who won't 
mind fighting for the Stars and Stripes. Call 
when you come to town. We'll have a good time, 
and save the country yet." 

The organization of this company was begun at 
once. The young men who formed the nucleus 
were a dozen of about the same age, between 
nineteen and twenty-five, old schoolfellows and 
comrades. They had learned the same lessons, 
played the same games, and roamed through the 
same woods and fields. Most of the associations of 
their short lives were the same ; and they struck 
joyously into this new track, pleased Avith the idea 
that they should travel it together. The captaincy 
was offered to Wm. Rotch Wister of Germantown. 
He was the senior of his young recruits by about 
ten years. He had known them from childhood ; he 
had seen them grow up. They were the companions 
of his own brothers, one of whom Avas in the troop. 
He shared all their earnestness and enthusiasm for 
the cause in which they were banded, and accepted 
the position in the same spirit in which it was 
tendered. In a few days they went into barracks 
at Chestnut Hill, in the untenanted inn attached to 
an unused race-course. They began in right sol- 
dierly fashion, sleeping on "shake-downs" in the 
bare, empty rooms, washing at the pump, and groom- 



FIRSTCALLTOARMS. 27 

ing their own horses. They mounted and equip- 
ped themselves, and were soon joined by many 
young men from the neighborhood and from Phila- 
delphia. The race-course made a capital parade- 
ground, and they employed a sergeant of the old 
United States Cavalry (now a captain in the 1st New 
York Cavalry,) as a drill-master, who trained them 
thoroughly in the manual and the management of 
their horses. This apprenticeship proved of the 
greatest use to the little party, nearly every mem- 
ber of which has since been in active service in the 
field, many being to-day cavalry officers of distinc- 
tion. 

They remained at Chestnut Hill for two months, 
drilling constantly, and doing all the duties of a 
private soldier. Those two months will long be 
remembered by every member of that young band, 
and by many another who looks back to it as a 
bright halting-place, across the oceans of blood and 
tears which separate us from the spring of 1861. 
Our sorrows had not come upon us then ; at least 
they had not come home to us. We were hopeful 
and confident, — over-confident. But few saw what 
was to come, and they Avere not listened to, or if 
listened to, laughed at for false prophets and faint 
hearts. When the whole North seemed to move as 
one man, when the youngest, and bravest, and 
wisest, and best, all struck hands and rushed for- 
ward together, it was a sober and sad judgment 



28 WALTER S. N.EWHALL. 

which could foresee what we had to go through 
before we reached the end, — the end which then 
looked so near, and has since looked so for. Those 
who boastfully named ninety days, or six weeks, or 
a twelvemonth, as the term of the war, only spoke 
the real feeling of the whole North. There Avere 
many who would not couch their belief in such 
braggart words ; there were few who did not echo 
them in their hearts. We had yet to learn our 
lesson. And it was not strange that, all unused 
as we were to misfortune and reverse, we could 
not and would not believe that they were in store 
for us. The first blood had hardly been shed, the 
first young hero had hardly been snatched away, 
and the possibility, the reality of such things had 
not been ground into us. Few could look upon that 
troop at Chestnut Hill, running, leaping, breaking 
their horses, every form instinct with vigor, every 
eye brilliant with health, every step bounding with 
glad excitement of youth and conscious strength, 
and understand the meaning of such words as 
defeat and death. The season, too, drove such 
thoughts away. The spring was late, and came at 
last Avith one burst of warmth and bloom. Such 
bright days as followed each other, week after 
week, such luxuriant vegetation, such swarms of 
insect life, such a profusion of flowers in the fields 
and gardens, such a harvest of strawberries, had 
seldom been seen. Everything followed in rapid 



FIRSTCALLTOARMS. 29 

succession. The fruit-blossoms had not melted 
away from the orchards before the roses came, and 
in the dark pine woods which overhang the Wissa- 
hickon, the milk-white flowers of the dogwood had 
not faded before the laurel blossoms spread like a 
blush over the gray rocks. The barracks were the 
constant resort of the whole neighborhood, and the 
steep sylvan lanes, usually so lonely, which lead 
from the Wissahickon to Chestnut Hill became 
travelled and frequented. Lines of carriages, laden 
like provision trains, were constantly on the way 
to the relief of the volunteers, carrying hampers 
packed with reminiscences of pic-nics. Tender 
mothers, thoughtful sisters, and fair philanthro- 
pists, brought hams, tongues, a-la-mode beef, meat 
pies, fruit, cake, and pastry, and drove away, sigh- 
ing for the poor fellows and the hardships of the 
soldier's life. Poor fellows, indeed ! They must 
have laughed since then, over their salt pork and 
hard crackers, to think of the sympathy and solici- 
tude with which their larder was supplied during 
their short military apprenticeship. The afternoon 
drill was the favorite time, and then, day after day, 
the stand would be covered with spectators; the 
seats were crowded with pretty faces under pictur- 
esque hats, light summer dresses, and gay scarves ; 
and the young knights below went through their 
evolutions, duly stimulated by the thought of the 
bright eyes that watched them. 



30 AVALTER S. NEWHALL. 

The young men were nearly all good horsemen, 
having been used to the saddle from childhood. 
Walter Newhall was one of the best riders, and by 
far the finest swordsman of them all. The same 
dexterity which had given him such advantage with 
his cricket-bat, now showed itself in his perfect 
command of the sabre, and their drill-master said 
that it would take but little practice to make him 
the most accomplished swordsman in the army. 
He was also a capital shot, and soon became re- 
markably proficient in the manual. His agility 
and activity were extraordinary. He could run and 
clear a horizontal bar on a level with his head, 
without touching it ; and jump over his horse, 
which was more than sixteen hands high, with 
perfect ease. His grace was as remarkable as his 
strength. He was at this time between nineteen 
and twenty, about six feet tall, straight as an 
arrow, with falling shoulders, a noble chest, slen- 
der Avaist and flanks, and long limbs, on which the 
muscles started at every motion. His head was 
small and well set, covered with close curling 
brown locks. The upper part of his face was very 
handsome; the forehead was broad, white, and 
smooth. The eyes, which were gray, were set 
deep beneath straight, dark brows, and had always 
a peculiar steadiness and earnestness of gaze, 
which at times deepened into formidable stern- 
ness. The other features were somewhat heavy, but 



FIRST CALL TO ARMS. 31 

expressive of great determination, and later they 
sharpened and became finer in outline. His teeth 
were fine, and his complexion clear and fresh. 
There was in his appearance the same sort of 
classical simplicity which belonged to his charac- 
ter. His attitudes and postures, as he ran, leaped, 
wrestled, or curbed his high-spirited, half-broken 
horse, recalled the famous Quoit-player and Wrest- 
lers of the Tribune at Florence, or the horsemen in 
the hassi-relievi on the Arch of Constantine. Mind 
and body alike were cast in a heroic mould. 

Beside the drill and exercises there were other 
tasks to be performed, which were not agreeable 
even to the most enthusiastic. The guard-mount- 
ing and police duties are not the pleasantest part 
of camp life, and were less so than usual at 
Chestnut Hill, because as the company had not 
been regularly mustered into the service, no one 
had actual authority to compel obedience. New- 
hall went through these duties as thoroughly 
and cheerfully as his manual, and set an example 
of willingness to his comrades. He Avorked inde- 
fatigably, determined to master Avhatever was to 
be learned there, and to do whatever was to be 
done. His spirits did not desert him, and his in- 
difference to discomfort made it seem lighter to 
the others. He was as popular here as every- 
where else. 

They remained at Chestnut Hill until the middle 



32 WALTER S. NEW HALL. 

of June, and Avent through a course of training, 
which sent them to the field, better fitted for the 
exigencies of their position than most of our volun- 
teers. A cavalry company from Reading, Pennsyl- 
vania, joined them, while they still had the hope of 
being accepted by the Government, and another 
from Whitemarsh, Pennsylvania, chiefly farmers, 
(men who have done good service in the six months 
since Gettysburg,) came to cast in their lot with 
theirs, so that they made a fine body of men, ready 
to serve their country, and provide themselves 
with horses and equipments at their own expense. 
But at that time there was a belief at Washington 
that cavalry would not be needed, and volunteers 
were not encouraged to join that arm of the service. 
After repeated disappointments, it became clear 
that the Government would not accept them as a 
company, and at the end of two months they dis- 
banded, and each one began to look out for a 
position for himself. 



.^B^itf&iaMMiBai 



THE CAMPAIGN IN MISSOURI. 33 



CHAPTER III. 

THE CAMPAIGNIN MISSOURI. 

" The rush of squadrons, sweeping 
Like whirlwinds o'er the plain, 
The shouting of the slayers. 
The screeching of the slain."' 

" Tis meet that I should tell you now, 
How fairly armed, and ordered how, 
The soldiers of the guard.' 

This memorable spring was followed by a summer 
still more memorable. The Battle of Bull Run 
waked every one to the truth, that a long and 
bloody struggle was beginning. The effect was 
instantaneous and tremendous. The enlisting went 
on faster than it had done since the first call to 
arms. Such multitudes rushed to the recruiting 
stations, that the officers sat from morning until 
evening at their post, and yet were unable to enter 
the names of all who presented themselves in the 
course of the day. All the officers who had entered 
the service were impatient to be in action, and the 
regiments in process of organization filled up and 
left for the seat of war at once. 

General Fremont had just then returned from 



34 WALTER S. NEWH ALL. 

abroad. Walter Newhall applied to him for any 
post in which he could make his knowledge of 
cavalry useful ; but did not meet with much en- 
couragement at first. He kept himself before the 
General's notice, however ; and on the morning of 
July 26th, received a telegram, signed " Asboth," 
telling him to report at St. Louis as second lieu- 
tenant of cavalry. Always prompt, he left the 
same night, and on the 4th of August, wrote from 
St. Louis as folloAVS : 

" I arrived here this morning. General Fre- 
mont will be here this afternoon, and I am to call 
in the morning for instructions." 

" August 5th. I called upon Colonel Asboth 
this morning, and he has made me a second lieute- 
nant of the body guard of General Fremont, which 
is thought to be a first-rate place. We are to take 
a ride together this afternoon, as he wishes to see 
how I move." 

"August 11th. Am very busy. Left the hotel 
at 5 o'clock this A. M., and have just returned, 
9 P. M. To-morrow we have our men mustered 
into the service. They enlist and get the same pay 
as regulars." 

" August 17th. Very busy at the barracks, drill- 
ing men, &c." 

" August 21st. Eighty-nine men arrived -from 
Kentucky to-day, as members of the body guard. 
Our captain having decided to increase the organi- 



mtttameai 



THE CAMPAIGN IN MISSOURI. 50 

zation, we are at present recruiting for a third 
company. We require of the men joining, the 
very best of recommendation, and have already 
men from nine States of tlie Union. The body 
guard is to act as escort when the body of General 
Lyon arrives." 

" September 10th. The Western department has 
seen fit to appoint me a first lieutenant in the body 
guard, with increased duties. We have been on 
the road almost all the week, day and night. No 
time to write." 

" September 13th. Received letters from home 
yesterday, but didn't have time to read them until 
this A. M. W^e were in the saddle from 7 A. M. till 
9 p. M. without dinner, and the men are taking a 
rest to-day. I am in command of Company A." 

" September 20th. We take the field on Monday 
with the Major-General and almost all the troops 
in and about St. Louis. We shall probably stop 
at Springfield, unless sooner brought up by the 
rebels." 

" September 25th. We leave to-morrow for Jef- 
ferson City. Boat leaves at 12 o'clock. Have been 
already waiting marching orders for two days." 

Ilis old fun did not die out in the hard and busy 
life which he had begun. He had a budget of good 
stories about his sojourn in St. Louis, and as usual 
several jokes against himself, one of wliich gave 
him especial delight, as an instance of his own 



36 WALTER S. NEWH ALL. 

complete discomfiture. He was walking down 
one of the principal streets, when Mrs. Fremont's 
carriage passed him and drew up before a shop. 
He was at some distance from the spot, but he 
strode on apace. Could he allow the wife of his 
chief to descend from her chariot unaided, or with 
onlj the support of a footman ? Impossible ! His 
courtesy and chivalry were all aroused; he sprang 
forward, straightened himself, opened the carriage- 
door, and with one hand to his cap, held out the 
other, hastily ungloved, to assist the lady to de- 
scend; as she stepped out he respectfully raised 
his eyes, and beheld — the sable phiz of Mrs. Fre- 
mont's black maid, who had been sent out to shop 
for her mistress. 

On his journey from St. Louis to Jefferson City, 
his singular power over others was tested in a 
peculiar way. There was a man with mania apotii 
on the boat ; he was almost wild, and absolutely 
unreasonable and unmanageable. Captain Foley 
and Major Zagonyi tried in vain to quiet him ; his 
cries and curses disturbed every one on board. 
At length they called Newhall, to see whether he 
could do anything with him. The young officer 
came up, with his brow lowering, and his eyes 
steady and stern, as they could be when need was, 
and merely uttered a few words in his usual decided 
manner. The man cowered instantly. "Lieutenant, 
you're my master," he replied, with a maudlin at- 



MMMfilM 



THE CAMPAIGN IN MISSOURI. 37 

tempt at conciliation ; " I'll make no more noise;" 
and tliej had no further trouble "with him in that 
way ; but the poor wretch was too far gone in his 
madness, and jumped overboard before thej arrived. 

" Jefferson City, October 4th. We arrived here 
safely, after a long and tedious trip. Our horses 
were in pretty good condition, and our three com- 
panies presented quite an appearance as we passed 
by the Major-General, who came up in the cars, 
and arrived here the night before Ave did. We 
were scouting yesterday, but met with nothing 
worthy of note. We leave our camp to-morrow 
morning; destination unknown. All the camps 
were broken up, and our troops moved off this 
morning." 

" Warsaw, Mo., October 20th. We made a 
little excursion across the Osage yesterday ; cap- 
tured one Secessionist, fifteen mules, seven horses, 
and one hundred bushels of wheat, &c. We don't 
have to pay much ; we give receipts, to be paid at 
discretion of the Government. We have not yet 
met anybody who has seen the rebel army. We 
are quartered in a Secesh house, and have the 
photographs of the male members of the family, 
Avho are in the rebel army ; they are armed with 
a rifle, two pistols, two bowie-knives, and one 
meat-saw, each. Pleasant-looking customers to 
meet about dusk. We have been here since Thurs- 
day ; are waiting for the completion of the bridge, 



da WALTER S. NEWH ALL. 

"svhich is being erected over the river at this point. 
We leave to-morrow morning for Quincy, about 
twenty-miles distant, and from thence march 
against Price, who is dividing his army into three 
divisions, and breaking for the woods, so we may 
miss him after all." 

" Left Warsaw on the night of the 22d Octo- 
ber. Stopped at the Three-mile House over- 
night. The men quartered in a barn belonging 
to a farmer. I tried to sleep outside with over- 
coat and India-rubber blanket; but growing cold 
towards morning, was obliged to borrow more 
bedding, and to pull over an extra quantity of 
straw. Heavy frost during the night. Men had 
to turn in without supper. Captain Haskell sup- 
plied us with some hard crackers. The ' lady' 
Avon't sell any potatoes, although she has a cellar 
full, as she says the soldiers have stolen every- 
thing aAvay from her. Made fifteen miles." 

"23d. Encamped on marshy ground in Benton 
County. We make short marches until Price's 
direction is ascertained, when the body guard 
starts out on its own hook." 

"First camp out of Warsaw. Major White has 
retaken Lexington with two hundred rebels, libe- 
rated our prisoners, and sent them to St. Louis, on 
board three steamers, also captured by him." 

" October 24th. Made fifteen miles, and en- 
camped fifteen miles from Bolivar. Major Zagonyi 



THE CAMPAIGN IN MISSOURI. 89 

has obtained permission to move fonvard -with the 
bodj guard, in conjunction with Major White and 
his Prairie Scouts. Started at 8|^ o'clock p. M. ; 
passed Bolivar about 2 o'clock a.m.; halted at 

's house for two hours ; rested and fed horses 

twenty-five miles from Springfield. At about ten 
miles from Springfield, at 12 o'clock noon, on 25th, 
overtook seven scouts, captured six ; the seventh 
escaped and carried the alarm into the town. I 
captured one fellow, who was fired at ten times by 
a sergeant of Company C. Was thrown off" while 
trying to pass a bush. Sergeant Hunter was also 
thrown, and somewhat hurt by the fall. Prisoner 
took to the woods, followed by me. No signs of him 
for half an hour, when suddenly saw something creep- 
ing in the grass; challenged and retook prisoner 
before the Major came up. He was very angry 
because I hadn't shot him ; said he couldn't take 
charge of prisoners. Told him he could shoot him 
now if he wanted to. News now came that the 
town was occupied by two thousand men. Nothing- 
daunted, the Major pushed on, crossing the prairie 
through corn-fields into Mount Vernon Road, down 
which we marched at fast trot. We saw some Se- 
ceshers in advance, and ' to the charge' was ordered. 
They cantered very leisurely, and led us directly 
into the enemy'^ camp. Providence, which rules 
all tilings, was especially our guide in this instance. 
Perceiving the enemy in such strong force, as I 



40 WALTER S. NEW HALL. 

was at the head of the column, leaped in my seat 
and asked the Major if the charge should be con- 
tinued. ' Certainly.' Down we went full split, 
drawing the enemy's fire. The Virginia rail fence 
saved many a poor fellow. We threw down the 
fence, forward, and charged. They ran, we fol- 
lowed, cutting them down like grass. Since the 
fight, Ave learn from authentic sources that one 
hundred and seven were killed, among whom was 
a colonel. Two lieutenants were taken after the 
fight while trying to escape. No prisoners taken 
on the field. The general impression is that the 
infantry of these parts won't stand the well-directed 
charge of impetuous cavalry-men. 'Tis poor fun 
after all. The brush cost us seventeen valuable 
lives, and about twenty wounded ; ten missing, 
supposed to be prisoners in the hands of the 
enemy. Some people have been kind enough to 
compare our charge to the charge of the Light 
Brigade at Balaklava, the immortal six hundred." 

It is a striking circumstance that the battle of 
Springfield was fought on the anniversary of that 
very charge. 

Others describe this fight in more words, and 
stronger Avords, than the young lieutenant who had 
won his spurs and fleshed his sword that day. 
Major Zagonyi's account is graphic, and we ven- 
ture to copy parts of it from Mrs. Fremont's *' Story 
of the Guard." 



THE CAMPAIGN IN MISSOURI. 41 

" Running down the lane between the cross-fire, 
the first company (Newhall's) followed close, but 
the rest stopped for a couple of seconds. I had 
not wondered if none had come, — young soldiers, 
and such a tremendous fire, — bullets coming like 

a rain I expected to find the enemy 

on the other side of Springfield; but, unexpectedly 
coming out of the woods to an open place, I was 
fired on, in front of my command. Halted for a 
minute; seeing that, or a bold forward march 
under a cross-fire, or a doubtful retreat with losing 
most of my men, I took the first, and commanded 
^ March !' Under a heavy cross-fire (in trot), down 
the little hill in the lane, two hundred yards, to a 
creek, where I ordered the fence to be opened ; 
marched in my command, ordered them to form, 
and with the war-cry of ' Fremont and the Union,' 
we made the attack. The first company (New- 
hall's,) forty-seven strong, against five or six 
hundred infantry, and the rest against the ca- 
valry, Avas made so successfully, that, in three 
minutes, the cavalry run in every direction, the 
infantry retreated in the thick wood, and their 
cavalry in every direction." 

Newhall's first thought was always of home and 
the fond hearts that were so full of anxiety for his 
well-being, and on the very battle-field, in all the 
heat of the recent encounter, he scratched off the fol- 
lowing letter in pencil, and despatched it at once. 
4 



42 WALTER S. NEWH ALL. 

" Twenty-five miles east of Springfield, Mo., 
October 27tli. We met the enemy, about 2000 
strong, and thoroughly routed him ; loss not known : 
ours is six killed, fifteen wounded. Although we 
retired after the fight, the place remained in charge 
of the wounded and their attendants. We march 
again to-night for Springfield. Our men are very 
much used up, having been in the saddle thirty-six 
hours, fought a grand battle, and marched eighty 
miles. My horse was shot twice by rifle-balls, and 
one load of buckshot, but he carried me through 
the whole afl"air splendidly. The General is here, 
and seems to be proud of us. We were about one 
hundred and sixty strong. W^e passed down a lane 
exposed to a cross-fire, before making our charge, 
which killed two and wounded one or two. Com- 
pany A charged the infantry, with a loss of four 
men, and five or six horses. Please send me a 
good sabre ; mine bent in thrusting, and the edge 
turned against the bones. Had my pistol knocked 
out of my hand, and what is supposed to be a bullet, 
doubled up my scabbard. Will write more fully 
soon. Charley Treichel passed through without 
a scratch, and behaved admirably. I went in with 
forty-nine men, and came out with twenty-six. The 
excitement about equalled that experienced after 
making 'a six over the fence.' " 

"Springfield, Mo., October 29. Hope your 
anxiety about me will be relieved when you have 



THE CAMPAIGN IN MISSOURI. 43 

the accounts of our successful attack upon the re- 
bels, and my coming out of the battle in safety. 
While charging at the head of the column down 
the lane, a runaway horse ran against me, and 
sent me heels over head, horse and all, among the 
stones and dirt. At this time we were exposed to 
a most dreadful fire, and you will imagine that 
under the circumstances it didn't take me long to 
regain my former position in the saddle. During 
the engagement a ball passed through the breast of 
my coat, entering opposite the right shoulder, and 
coming out under the chin, making a hole through 
the vest. You would say this was a narrow escape, 
as you have not seen the mark of a ball along Major 
Zagonyi's neck. In fact not a dozen of our men 
escaped without some sign of bullets or sabres. 
The body guard has won a name that will not be 
forgotten even in history. The fact of one hundred 
and sixty men attacking and defeating at least two 
thousand is unparalleled, and I would not part with 
my share of the glory for all the world. 

" My company charged the infantry, and Major 
Zagonyi led Companies B and C against the caval- 
ry. We separated after the charge, and did not 
meet again until near the town, both having accom- 
plished the objects in view. After dispersing the 
infantry in all directions, we crossed the road and 
charged into a camp of cavalry, where were about 
four hundred infantry, also with success, but with 



44 WALTER S. NEWHALL, 

the loss of three very good men and several horses. 
The wounded, prisoners, and city, remained in 
charge of eighteen men, until we returned on Sun- 
day morning with reinforcements. At one time I 
thought we should have to surrender, as we were 
completely surrounded ; but we charged, yelling 
like wild cats and Indians mixed, and drove the 
whole party like a flock of sheep. The rebel pri- 
soners say, they thought Fremont's whole army 
was upon them. Some of them believe it yet." 

The newspapers of course were full of flaming 
descriptions of the engagement, and Newhall re- 
ceived his full share of praise ; but there was one 
short paragraph in a Western paper which pleased 
him most of all the tributes paid to his courage on 
the occasion, and which deserves to be perpetuated 
as a proof of the estimation in which he was held 
by his own men. 

"Honor to whom Honor is Due. — The First 
Lieutenant of Company A, Fremont's Body Guard, 
Walter Newhall, from Philadelphia, has excelled 
himself in the fight at Springfield. Honor to 
him, who has always stood on the side of his 
comrades, not only with the sword, but as a friend 
and adviser of his men, who are all his warmest 
supporters. 

" In the name of Company A, Fremont's Body 
Guard." 

Another touching proof of the regard which his 



THE CAMPAIGN IN MISSOURI. 45 

companjhadforhim, came, long afterwards, througli 
a Philadelphia ladj, who went to St. Louis to nurse 
in the hospitals there. In one of the wards she 
found a soldier of the bodj guard, recovering from 
a fever, a very intelligent, well-informed, manly 
person, m whose mind solemn thoughts had been 
awakened by the recent dangers through which he 
had passed at the battle of Springfield. In the 
course of conversation the lady mentioned Lieute- 
nant ^ewhall, and the man's whole countenance 
lighted up on finding that she knew his officer: 
' He is the finest man in the regiment '" he ex 
claimed, "and the most popular. He knows how \o 
deal with men; he is always kindly, always treats 
them as if they were men, and not machines I 
have heard one-half the men say, they would rather 
serve under Newhall than any man in the service " 
He went on to speak of his many virtues, espe- 
cially h,s patience and forbearance with the trou- 
blesome fellows in the company, adding, "He is a 
true Christian. I have seen him sorely tried, and 
1 never heard him swear." 

The troops now encamped on the prairie near 
Springfield, and the few days which followed this 
splendid charge were devoted to paying the last 
honors to those who had fallen. A body of Dela- 
ware Indians with their chief, Fall-leaf, here joined 
the force. Their knowledge of the country and 
their training as hunters made them invaluable as 



46 WALTER S. NEWH ALL. 

scouts, and they had the utmost devotion for Gene- 
ral Fremont. Many of them on meeting him threw 
off the proverbial Indian undemonstrativeness, and 
embraced him with every profession of attachment. 
They went into camp close to his quarters, and held 
themselves on the alert. One night some of the 
Eastern troops, who had never seen a red man be- 
fore, tried to induce them to perform a native dance. 
They were not very ready to exhibit themselves, 
but the argument of whisky prevailed. They built 
a huge fire on the prairie, and began to dance 
round it with shouts and cries, gradually working 
themselves into a state of wild excitement. The 
Avhisky flowed freely and crept into their veins, 
setting their blood on fire ; they danced and whoojD- 
ed and lashed themselves into a frenzy, with frantic 
howls and yells, leaping and stamping like mad- 
men, while the crowd of soldiers looked on with 
pale faces at the savage show. 

Meanwhile the whole Western army Avas moving 
towards Springfield, and an engagement with the 
enemy seemed imminent. But daily rumors and 
reports from Washington Avere filling all the offi- 
cers with uneasiness, and suddenly, while the East- 
ern newspapers were still full of the spirited fight 
at Springfield, news came from the West that Gene- 
ral Fremont had been superseded, and his brave 
body guard mustered out of the service. IS^ewhall's 



THE CAMPAIGN IN MISSOURI. 47 

account of this is simple and straightforward ; he 
mentions the fact and makes no comment. 

"November 5th. General Fremont removed! 
With downcast looks and gloomy feelings we com- 
menced our homeward march, but our spirits were 
gradually raised by the cheerful music and smiling 
countenances of the loyalists." 

" St. Louis, November 8th. We arrived here to- 
night with the General. All well. The people turned 
out by thousands, and welcomed us in a torch-light 
procession. Cheer after cheer was given for the 
' General,' the ' Body Guard,' ' Major Zagonyi,' &c." 

Mrs. Fremont's account of this reception is most 
striking, and we again take the liberty of borrow- 
ing from her book, " The Story of the Guard." 

" Patient crowds had kept their watch through 
the long day, and by night it was a sea of heads 
in all the open space, around our house. The 
door-posts were garlanded, and the very steps 
covered with flowers, — touching and graceful offer- 
ings from the Germans. China-asters, and dahlias, 
with late roses and regular bosquets of geraniums, 
beautified the entrance and perfumed the air ; and 
when the General did make his way at last through 
the magnificent assemblage, it was to be met by 
the wives and children of the German officers he 
had left at Springfield. Unknown to me, they had 
come to speak their hearts to him, but they had 
more tears than words. Touched to the heart 



48 WALTER S.NEWHALL. 

already, the General was not prepared for the 
arrival of citizens — American as well as German — 
who came to thank him for past services, and ask 
to stand by him in the hour of disgrace. Mean- 
time the unceasing cheers and shouts of the vast 
crowd without sounded like the tide after a high 
wind. I could not stand it. I went far up to the 
top of the house, and, in the cold night air, tried 
to still the contending emotions, when I saw a 
sight that added to the throbbing of my heart. 
Far down the Avide avenue the serried crowd was 
parting, its dark, restless masses glowing in the 
lurid, wavering torchlight, looking literally like 
waves ; and, passing through them, came horse- 
men, stamped with the splendid signet of battle, 
their wounded horses and bullet-torn uniforms, 
bringing cries of love and thanks from those for 
whom they had been battling. When they halted 
before the door, and the sudden ring and flash of 
their drawn sabres added new beauty to the 
picture, I think only the heart of a Haman could 
have failed to respond to the truth and beauty of 

the whole scene Before getting the 

General's request for a flag for them, I had already 
had one made, and they came in the morning to 
receive it. By day their Avar-worn appearance 
was still more touching. As I looked, how I wish- 
ed ' that I might utter the thoughts that arose in 
me,' but I could only ask Major Zagonyi to say 



THE CAMPAIGN IN MISSOURI. 49 

for me how I felt the honor they had brought on 
our name, and that they would find I did not for- 
get them." 

A few days afterwards, the body guard were 
again drawn up in front of General Fremont's 
quarters, and as usual a crowd had collected about 
them. Newhall was standing at the head of his 
company, when an old man, whom he thought he 
recognized as the father of one of his men, stopped 
before him and called out, " Three cheers for 
Walter Newhall !" Walter's modesty was, as we 
have said, one of his strongest characteristics, but 
he was usually calm and self-possessed. This un- 
expected tribute, however, came upon him so sud- 
denly that he was lost in confusion, and as the 
hearty cheers rang through the air he could not 
raise his eyes from the ground, which, as he after- 
wards said, he was silently invoking to open and 
swallow him. He had a horror of noise and 
notoriety, and on learning that his letter from the 
battle-field had found its way into the newspapers, 
he wrote home remonstrating with his family for 
allowing it to be published, and entreating that 
nothing of the sort might ever occur again. 

When the orders relieving General Fremont 
were received. Major Zagonyi, with his impulsive 
temper and his enthusiastic admiration for his 
chief, had but one idea, that the ofiicers of the 
body guard should resign, as a tribute of respect. 



■vnir^Mff-^ii.t-- 



60 WALTER S. NEW HALL. 

Most of them caught his spirit, and wrote their 
resignations. When he mentioned the subject to 
Newhall, the young man replied firmly, "No, I 
took up arms in the service of my country, and I 
will not lay them do'wn for any personal feeling. 
The war is not ended, and I must seek employment 
elsewhere." His friend and true brother in arms, 
Charles Treichel, (another of the Chestnut Hill 
company,) gave the same answer, and the Major 
carried their replies and the resignation of the rest 
to the General. The latter had known nothing of 
their intention, and would not hear of it for an 
instant. " Lieutenants Newhall and Treichel are 
perfectly right," he said. " Throw those resigna- 
tions in the fire." 

After all their hard work and brave deeds, this 
noble body of men were mustered out of the 
service, "for words spoken at Springfield," as if 
they had brought disgrace upon it. The first 
officer sent to disband them was General Sweeney, 
a one-armed veteran of the Mexican war. On see- 
ing them parade in their tattered uniforms, he was 
so much moved that he dashed the tears from his 
eye with his empty sleeve, and said, " he would be 
d — d if he mustered such troops out of the .ser- 
vice." General Sturgis, to whom the ungrateful 
task was next assigned, saw them drawn up for 
inspection, and was equally struck with their gal- 
lant appearance. He said that if the Government 



THE CAMPAIGN IN MISSOURI. 51 

wanted to lose such troops, it must send some one 
else to muster them out. But the fiat had gone 
forth and must be obeyed. It is worthy of note 
that not a twelvemonth later, when the General 
by whose order this was done, in the hour of his 
greatest need, on the night before the battle of 
Malvern Hill, called for volunteers for service of 
extreme peril, the two who were found to help him 
in his straits were officers of this very guard. 

Newhall, of course, thought the fate of the body 
guard very hard, but only said again they had 
done their best, and that he would not part with 
his share of the glory, for the world. He was then 
commissioned as captain of a new cavalry regi- 
ment to be raised in the AVest ; but seeing no 
prospect of success in recruiting, and chafing under 
the delay of forming a new regiment, he soon took 
leave of the brave comrades with whom he had 
made this short and brilliant campaign, and re- 
turned to his home. He at once applied himself 
to obtaining a position in the x\rmy of the Potomac, 
in which he finally succeeded, early in January, 
1862. He then received a commission as first 
lieutenant in the Third Pennsylvania Cavalry. 



— iiiiriMn' ' I 



52 WALTER S. NEWH ALL. 



CHAPTER IV. 

THE PENINSULA. 

" Out 'twixt the battery-smokes there flew 
A rider, bound on bound 
Full galloping, nor bridle drew 
Until he reached the mound." 

"When lost was the eighth battle, 
Nor heart nor hope had they." 

" Washington, January 13tli, 1862. This is 
a first-class regiment, under command of Colonel 
Averell, an able and energetic commander, and I 
would rather take a first lieutenancy under him, 
than a captaincy under a man whom the Govern- 
ment would not trust in any important duty. I 
hope you will not consider it any disgrace to take 
a step backwards, under the circumstances, as it 
would, I am sure, be more gratifying to be promo- 
ted to fill a vacancy, than be forced into position." 

That first winter was very trying in every way 
to the troops about Washington, There was all 
the hardship of military life Avithout any of its ex- 
citement. The roads were at best mere bogs and 
often dangerous quagmires, and drilling was nearly 
impossible, especially for cavalry. There was the 
miserable monotony of the camp, with its disa- 



THE PENINSULA. 53 

greeable duties, unenlivened by that which makes 
it tolerable during a campaign, the state of the 
roads depriving the officers even of the pleasure of 
riding ; and as a relief from this there was Wash- 
ington close at hand, with all the temptations of 
mixed but very amusing society, and dissipation of 
every sort. It was but a step from the muddy, 
dreary encampment, where men grew tired of 
seeing the same faces, to the hotel parlors, warm 
and bright, crowded with gay, idle people, seeking 
diversion, the women dazzled and delighted by the 
uniforms, and some of them never content unless 
surrounded by a full staff of officers. Of course the 
young men found this drawing-room duty pleasanter 
than picket, and after they had been flattered to 
the top of their bent for a whole evening, the way 
out of the hotel led them through the bar-room, 
and thence it was not far to worse resorts. Many 
resisted bravely and made use of their inaction to 
familiarize themselves with the detail of the drill 
and manual, and to study tactics. It is almost 
needless to say that Newhall was one of this class. 
His camp was on the further side of the Potomac, 
nearly three miles from the Chain Bridge, where he 
had not even the chance of seeing his elder brother, 
(another member of the Chestnut Hill company,) 
who was encamped with his regiment, the Sixth 
Pennsylvania Cavalry, otherwise known as the 
Lancers, on Meridian Hill, two miles from Wash- 



—aicBBifea iJa i uat.:^"' 



64 WALTER S. NEW HALL. 

ington, in an opposite direction. He stuck to his 
camp, and did much to keep up the tone of his mess 
by his own devotion to duty, and everlasting fun. 
" To be jolly under creditable circumstances," 
seemed to be his motto, and he managed to send 
home frequent letters, full of laughable descriptions 
of camp-life and illustrated with spirited carica- 
tures ; for he had a clever pencil as well as a keen 
eye for the ridiculous. 

And so the weary months wore on, until the 
night of the 9th of March, when the order to 
advance was given. All through the dark hours 
between midnight and dawn, the city was alive with 
mounted orderlies, dashing about at full speed, 
carriages driving rapidly to and from the houses of 
the different generals, officers rushing wildly in 
every direction, some to their camps to hasten the 
preparations, others home to take leave of their 
families, many of whom were passing the winter in 
Washington. From early dawn the sound of bugle- 
calls, the continuous tread of men, the tramp and 
splash of horses, the rumble of wheels, were heard 
incessantly passing along the streets, and all day 
long an endless procession of artillery, cavalry, 
infantry, ambulances, and white-covered baggage- 
wagons, each with its six mules, Avere passing 
through the city from every quarter, and converg- 
ing towards the Long Bridge. A general move- 
ment and agitation pervaded the place. On the 



THE PENINSULA. 55 

sidewalks were groups of ladies, whose pale faces 
quivered with excitement, watching the regiments 
go by ; not one but had a father, brother, husband, 
or lover in them, and many friends. The orderlies 
were still galloping furiously up and down, and 
there were a number of men in uniform about 
General McClellan's headquarters. A crowd gradu- 
ally gathered there to see the General and his bril- 
liant stafFride oiF. But after some hours it became 
known that he had ridden quietly away from his 
own house, with a couple of orderlies, and was 
already on the further side of the Potomac. To- 
wards evening, the commotion subsided. A few 
companies of infantry were still marching towards 
Georgetown, but the cannon and horsemen had 
disappeared, the people had gone back to their 
houses, and the camps, which had been whitening 
the hills about Washington all winter, had vanished 
like snow. Colonel Averell's regiment, the Third 
Pennsylvania Cavalry, had been in the very ad- 
vance. Newhall writes : 

" Camp Marcy, March 10th, 3 a. M. We com- 
mence a grand advance this morning. The whole 
army moves forward. The Third Pennsylvania 
Cavalry has the post of honor. We scouted yester- 
day in the neighborhood of Fairfax Court-house, 
without seeing any Secesh. The impression is that 
the enemy have fallen back. After an hour's sleep 
I was called to the Colonel's tent, and told to be 



56 WALTER S. NEW HALL. 

ready for a forward move by 3 o'clock a. m. 
Of course we were all on hand, and my company 
being of the first squadron, we furnished the ad- 
vance guard. Arrived first at Fairfax, then at 
Centreville, at which latter place, although to all 
appearance strongly fortified and occupied by 
troops, my first sergeant and two privates were all 
over the fortifications and the town before the rest 
of the army came up. They had logs in the port- 
holes and sticks stuck into the ground, which at 
a distance, assisted by our imaginations, looked 
like guns and men. At Centreville our men fell 
asleep, and when we started for Manassas in the 
afternoon, were a little behindhand, and were 
obliged to get in the rear of the leading squadron, 
so that we were the second company into Man- 
assas Junction ; but my second lieutenant and my- 
self thought we would like to have something to 
talk about, so we went ahead, and were among the 
first to enter the famous place. It was quite dark, 
however, and we couldn't see much, and fortunately 
it was obscure enough to prevent the Colonel from 
seeing us. I passed a very comfortable night in a 
Secesh tent. We don't feel quite so stupid as one 
does after a hearty meal at Willard's. We break- 
fasted this morning on pork and crackers, and for 
a change will dine on same, if it holds out. We 
are having first-rate times, and everybody says, 
' Secesh is played out.' " 



THE PENINSULA. . 67 

" Fairfax, March 12th. We returned from Cen- 
treville this morning. Don't think Ave shall return 
to Manassas, as there's nobody there. Our com- 
pany furnished the 'advance guard, capturing five 
Secesh, three wagons marked C. S. A., and eight 
horses." 

" Camp Marcy, March 15th. We returned to 
our old camp last night. We marched so slow and 
halted so often, one of our prisoners said we must 
be a part of the standing army. Some man very 
kindly gave me four crackers. If I find out who he is 

1 will certainly recommend him for promotion, for 
he saved me from starving. We are under march- 
ing orders, probably for Alexandria, to embark for 
the South." 

" March 22d. Marched to Alexandria." 

" March 30th. Embarked on the 24th for Fort- 
ress Monroe. Landed at Hampton." 

" April 6th. In front of Yorktown. We reach- 
ed our present position this morning. Immediately 
the artillery opened on the enemy's fortifications, 
and we have been surrounded by a line of fire all 
day. 

" The hard fighting is being done on our left. At 

2 o'clock the enemy charged on one of our bat- 
teries, but couldn't stand the impetuous counter by 
the 62d Pennsylvania Volunteers, Colonel B-lack. 
It's no use; they may as well fall back at once. 
This army can't be beaten. We are gradually 

5 



58 WAXTER S. NEWHALL. 

dra-wing the line around them, and if they are not 
off soon, it will be too late.- Nobody hurt in our 
regiment, though shells have been bursting about 
us all day. Our horses stand fire first-rate." 

" April 10th. We moved back half a mile last 
night, to get out of reach of shells, &c. No gene- 
ral engagement since Saturday. Hope it will 
commence soon, or we shall have a very bad case of 
evacuation after all. It has been raining for four 
days. Horses suffering for forage." 

"April 13th. We still keep our distance, though 
it's all right. Lowe's balloon playfully ran off with 

General two days since. He cried lustily 

for help, as he passed our camp at the rate of six 
miles an hour. He fortunately came down in a 
Federal camp, badly scared, and a little lame." 

" April 20th. We still keep up our masterly in- 
activity, drilling twice a day in a broiling sun, and 
those nearest the enemy dodging the shells." 

" April 22d. I placed our pickets yesterday with- 
in three hundred yards of the enemy's works, but 
OAving to rain and fog I couldn't see much." 

" April 26th. Still before Yorktown. Colonel 
Averell has promised me that I shall act as aid to 
General Porter when the bombardment begins." 

"May 4th. The rebels 'last ditch' isn't at 
Yorktown. They evacuated last night. We are 
ordered to be ready to march at a moment's notice. 
Colonel Averell is in good spirits, as his regiment 



THE PENINSULA. 59 

has the cavah-y advance. I have been out of sorts 
for a few days, our Doctor trying to make a sick 
man of me. But it's no go. I moved on with the 
regiment, much to the Doctor's disappointment, for 
he expected to have me for a fever patient, and 
insisted I was very light-headed. All went on 
smoothly after leaving Yorktown until the McClel- 
lan Dragoons got into a snarl with some of Stuart's 
Cavalry, with good intent enough, but rather in- 
different success. Our squadron was ordered by 
Colonel Averell to dismount to fight. A battery 
of artillery was ordered to the front ; a few shots 
sent the rebel cavalry flying. As we came out of 
the woods the rebels were trying to form in the 
open space, but the guns were brought up, and we 
soon had Stuart's men running like mad. I 
was on duty until 12 o'clock that night ; a pretty 
good day's work for a sick man." 

"May 6th. Up and in motion at five the next 
morning, marching with the advance artillery and 
infantry. Presently the artillery is ordered to the 
front, and we commence the famous battle of Wil- 
liamsburg. It soon became hot work for the artil- 
lery, and the infantry were ordered up at double- 
quick. The rebels are too many for us. The 
firing is constant all day. We almost give way, 
when Kearney's brigade comes howling up the 
road, and the day is ours, after the hardest kind of 
fighting." 



60 WALTER S. NEW HALL. 

His own regiment was not actively engaged, and 
his Colonel allowed him to act as aid to General 
Heintzelman. 

"I found the General in the midst of the fight, 
keeping up the spirits of the men. His Adjutant- 
General was everywhere at once, doing the same 
thing. His aids were all away on various urgent 
duties. My arrival was looked upon as quite an 
event. I was immediately despatched to General 

, on the extreme left, with orders for him to 

attack at once with all his force. You may imagine 
how I put things through on such an occasion. I 
cut through hospitals and woods, and yet it seemed 
as if I never would get there. 1 most certainly 
thought the attack should be made right off, and I 
acted accordingly. At last I found the General 
sitting on his horse half asleep. I repeated Gene- 
ral Heintzelman's orders. ' Will you be good 
enough to ride a short distance with me,' he said, 
and then tried to explain to me that the brigade 
had just reported to him, that the men and roads 
were new to him, &c., which only disgusted me. 
I repeated to him General Heintzelman's positive 
orders, told him a prompt execution of them would 
certainly turn this flank, and added, ' These men are 
American soldiers, and will go wherever they are 
properly led. I will report to General Heintzel- 
man that you are moving rapidly,' and I left him. 
Would you believe he never made an attack ! and 



THE PENINSULA. 61 

if Kearney hadn't come up just as he did, we 
should have lost the fight. As it was, we occupied 
the field. At night, I was left in charge of a road 
in the neighborhood, and could hear the groans of 
the wounded. Of course, I passed a sleepless night, 
in a pouring rain. In the morning early, we were 
relieved, and heard the good news that the rebels 
had left. We started on after our regiment with- 
out breakfast, caught up at the rebel Avorks, and 
proceeded immediately to Williamsburg, where I 
was made ofiicer of the guard, and not relieved 
until 6 P. M., when I got something to eat, took 
to sleep most vigorously, and woke up this morning 
as bright and fresh as a lark. All these little de- 
mands on my strength seem to benefit me, as I 
never felt better in my life." 

" May 12th. The army is moving along slowly. 
The advance is within sixteen miles of Richmond." 

" May 17th. We shall not move for a few days. 
Roads in a fearful condition." 

" Baltimore Stores, May 22d. Our advance is 
within six miles of Richmond. We were scouting 
a day or two ago ; one of our orderlies missed us, 
and mistaking the road, got within sight of Rich- 
mond. He wasn't long in making a straight line 
back." 

"Near New Bridge, May 26th. Colonel Averell 
keeps his regiment at work. Two of our squad- 
rons left camp this morning at 6 o'clock, arrived 



62 WALTER S. NEWHALL. 

at the outposts about 9, advanced up the Nine- 
mile Road, drove in the enemy's pickets, killing 
one. The rebels were in full force. They paraded 
about five hundred infantry, tAvo squadrons of 
cavalry, and a section of artillery, with which they 
opened on us at about a thousand yards. While 
they were getting the guns into position we took a 
sketch of the surrounding country, saw a part of 
Richmond, and having posted our pickets advanta- 
geously, withdrew at the critical moment. They 
threw ten shells right into us, doing no harm. They 
are very innocent little things, as far as I know. 
At the moment, an order came up from General 
McClellan, not to provoke a general engagement. 
Three regiments of infantry came up to hold the 
ground we had gained. I had the honor of being 
in command of the advance guard, and it was one 
of my men who despatched the rebel. Our special 
correspondent will no doubt make a great thing of 
it, as I saw him collecting items from some of the 
command." 

" May 30th. Three or four squadrons just going 
on a scout." 

" Camp near New Bridge, June 1st. Very heavy 
fighting on our left flank yesterday." (Fair Oaks.) 
"Report gives us a decided advantage. At the 
opening of the action our forces were driven back 
two miles, but being reinforced, the boys did their 
work handsomely, and now occupy the battle-field. 



THE PENINSULA. 63 

The fight recommenced at 7 o'clock this a. M., and as 
we are within earshot of the rattle of the musketry, 
it is very exciting. No artillery has been used this 
morning. Colonel Averell says that General Mc- 
Clellan thinks if the battle had commenced two 
hours earlier yesterday, we should have marched 
into Richmond to-day, without opposition. 9 a. M. 
Heavy firing on our left still continues. We all 
wonder why they don't trot out the artillery." 

" Savage's Station, June. General McCall's 
Reserves came up to-day, but knowing ones say, 
' No fighting for two weeks, unless pushed by the 
rebels.' " 

"June 6th. No firing on either side to-day." 

" Camp Forage Station, June 9th. We have 
all sorts of rumors about the evacuation of Rich- 
mond, &c. General McClellan is now fighting for 
the hill which overlooks Richmond. If he can 
once get a footing, the business will be soon settled. 
Any quantity of siege guns have already gone up 
the road." 

"Savage's Station, June 19th. We have just 
returned to camp, after a four days' scout in Dixie 
proper. We left here on Monday morning, at 5 
A.M., and arrived at Whitehouse about 2 p.m. 
Encamped to feed horses, &c. We crossed the 
river at dark, and stood to horse for three hours 
on the other side. Resumed the march at 5 o'clock 
next morning. About fifteen miles out, the ad- 



64 WALTER S. NEWHALL. 

vance guard chased and caught a rank Secesh. 
We confiscated his mare, and sent him to the rear, 
a prisoner. Our advance charged into the small 
town of Aylctt's, on the Mataponj, capturing about 
a dozen prisoners, burned the bridge and a schooner 
or two, seized a couple of wagons on the road to Rich- 
mond, and returned without meeting the expected 
rebels. Same night we encamped opposite White- 
house, having marched about fifty miles since sun- 
rise. We recrossed the river yesterday morning, 
remained all day at Whitehouse, resting the ani- 
mals, and returned this morning to camp, all well. 
Lieutenant Rogers, of our regiment, had his horse 
shot on picket, on Tuesday. Three balls hit the 
horse, killing him instantly." 

"June 22d. Yesterday, our company scouted 
the roads leading to Richmond, and met the rebels 
everywhere. We didn't push the fighting, but 
tried to draw them out by rushing towards their 
position, and then retreating, apparently in great 
confusion; but we fiiiled to excite their tempers." 

In reading this narrative, taken from NeAvhall's 
letters and note-book, Avritten on the spot, it is 
curious to observe how much in the dark the in- 
ferior officers are, regarding not only projected 
movements, but those which are actually being 
executed. Here we can see how the army Avas not 
aware of the object of its own manoeuvres, and that 
one portion had no idea what other portions Avere 



THE PENINSULA. 65 

about, who were hotly engaged at the very moment. 
It must be a strange sensation, for men not brought 
up in the army, to hokl themselves in readiness 
from one hour to the next, not knowing whether 
they are to march or not, nor whither they are 
going when actually on the march, though it may 
be a question of life and death to each one. With 
regular soldiers, of course this is mere habit ; with 
volunteers like ours, men not accustomed to be 
under authority, and to follow blindly and mecha- 
nically, but used to think and act for themselves, 
and know the reason for every step they take, such 
obedience is deliberate volition, and the discipline 
of our troops is surely a great proof of their man- 
liness. 

" Savage's Station, Camp Lincoln, June 25th. 
We have heard firing in front this morning ; 
but as the enemy can't get this way, and we're 
not ready to go that way, I don't believe it will 
amount to much. Lieutenant Rogers, just arrived 
from the advance, reports heavy firing, and the 
probability of a big row. At any rate, we don't 
come into the engagement, there being no place for 
cavalry evolutions." 

" June 27th. Took the following order to Gene- 
ral Woodbury, to hasten building the bridge across 
White Oak SAA'amp : 



66 WALTER S.NEWHALL. 

" ' Headquarters, 8 p.m., June 27th, 1862. 

" ' To General Heintzelman : 

" ' The General commanding directs you to send 
an officer at once to White Oak Swamp, with in- 
structions to say to General Woodbury, who was 
sent there this afternoon, that the General orders 
the bridges he is to construct across the swamp to 
be pushed to-night with all possible rapidity. Let 
the officer you send bring back General Woodbury's 
reply. No time is to be lost. 

" ' S. WilliaxMS, a. a. G.' " 

Newhall had the bump of locality, as the phre- 
nologists call it, remarkably developed. In riding 
over a country, he seized its prominent features as 
if by intuition; he comprehended the "hay of the 
land," and never lost his bearings. He could not 
only find his way back over a road which he had 
once travelled, but he could find his way back by 
half a dozen roads to the point from which he had 
started. He was a natural topographer, and in 
the course of his scout and picket duty gained a 
knowledge of the situation of every hill and stream, 
the extent of the woods, the depth of the waters, 
and the direction of all the roads within the field 
of operations. This faculty, or rather instinct, 
was well known to his superior officers, and stood 
him in good stead constantly on the Peninsula, 
especially during the terrible week which was be- 



THE PENINSULA. 67 

ginning. On carrying the above order to General 
Woodbury, the latter began to give directions for 
sounding the swamp, in order to sink the piles. 
Time pressed ; the enemy was advancing, the danger 
was imminent ; every moment was precious. New- 
hall interposed, and gave the depth at various 
distances, which he knew from occasionally cross- 
ing it. He was so positive and minute in his 
details on these points that the General ordered 
the work to proceed without further inquiry. 
Newhall arrived at General Woodbury's at 10 
o'clock P.M. The bridge was finished at sunrise. 
Then followed the seven days' fight, through which 
we need not follow our army in its disastrous re- 
treat, until, broken, shattered, but undaunted, they 
found themselves once more in safety on the banks 
of the James River, presenting an impregnable 
front to the enemy. Newhall writes from Har- 
rison's Landing, July 3d : 

" We arrived here last night, all right, having 
acted through the day as rear-guard of the army. 
For the last five days we have lived on excitement 

and a few crackers At 2 a. m. on 

Saturday the army was in motion, and the wagons 
had mostly crossed by afternoon. Our regiment 
crossed at daylight. At about 11 a. m. I was sent 
to General Heintzelman to pilot him across the 
swamp, which was done about dark 



68 "WALTER S. NEWHALL. 

The enemy effected a crossing at Woodbury's 
bridge early on Sunday morning, and a strong 
force came down Charles City Road, and a general 
engagement throughout the day was the conse- 
quence. Our regiment was ordered to General 
Fitz-John Porter, and we were obliged to pass 
along the NcAvmarket Road under a strong fire 
of artillery, which was mostly too high to do us 
any hurt. At 7 o'clock, a regiment of rebel 
cavalry came charging down Newmarket Road 
after our pickets, but a section of artillery opened 
on them, throwing them into the greatest confu- 
sion, during which two of our companies dashed 
at them splendidly, killing and wounding several, 
and taking about sixty prisoners, Avith a loss of 
only one killed and two wounded. When we ar- 
rived on James River (Fitz-John Porter's left), the 
rebels had just commenced an attack on the Gene- 
ral, who replied handsomely, silencing their bat- 
teries in less than two hours. In the meantime, 
our regiment was supporting batteries, driving up 
stragglers, and keeping the roads open," 

Newhall was constantly engaged during the 
whole week. On this night, the eve of the battle 
of Malvern Hill, he performed an act of signal 
daring, Avhich well deserves to be recorded. Frank- 
lin and Heintzelman were left at different points 
to protect the retreat, and by evening, when the 
rest of the army had reached the James River, 



THE PENINSULA. 69 

nothing had been heard from them. General Mc- 
Clellan asked for volunteers to carry despatches to 
the missing Generals, as the service was one of 
extreme danger, the communication probably being 
cut off. Colonel Averell said he knew two officers 
in his regiment who would undertake it, and the 
mission was eagerly accepted by Lieutenants New- 
hall and Treichel. Newhall was to report to Gene- 
ral Franklin, and at once took the road to the White 
Oak Swamp bridge, attended by two orderlies. It 
is impossible for one who has not been in the field 
to fancy the danger and difficulty of the enterprise. 
The fatigue of the previous Aveek had been exces- 
sive; he had travelled the road but once, fighting and 
falling back with the rest of the forces, which must 
have left him little leisure to note the landmarks ; 
and, moreover, the aspect of things had entirely 
changed within a few hours. It was after nightfall, 
the road was blocked with troops, artillery, and 
wagons ; the nearer camp-fires blinded the messen- 
ger with their glare, the distant ones flickered like 
ignesfatui, bewildering him by their number. When 
beyond our lines, the chances of meeting the enemy 
in force were a thousand to one, and those of fall- 
ing in with scouts, or pickets, or detached parties, 
still greater. On reaching the bridge at White 
Oak Swamp he found that General Franklin was 
already on the retreat up the Nine-mile Road, tow- 
ards the James River, leaving everything that could 



70 AVALTER S. NEWHALL. 

not be carried away, in flames. Newhall galloped 
on, leaving the blaze of the burning stores behind, 
through the darkness beyond. He overtook the 
General about six miles from the bridge, delivered 
his message, received the reply, and immediately 
turned his horse's head, to go back by the way by 
which he had come. General Franklin assured him 
it would be impossible to return, that the road was 
already in possession of the enemy ; but he resolved 
to attempt it, and struck across the country. He 
was stopped by a swamp, and knowing that no time 
was to be lost, he boldly made for the road again, 
and pressed on at full speed through the increas- 
ing darkness, losing one of his orderlies altogether, 
and almost leaving the other behind. He recrossed 
the bridge in safety, but immediately afterwards 
rode into an encampment, which he could not re- 
member having seen when he passed three hours 
before. He reined in his horse, and asked one of 
the soldiers what his regiment was. The man re- 
plied, "We are Mississippi troops," in a suspicious 
tone, and at the same moment another thrust a 
flaming torch almost into Newhall's face to see 
"who was riding about at that time of night." 
But he managed to push by without raising any 
alarm, till stopped by a third, who challenged him 
as he passed. With perfect coolness, he assumed 
an authoritative tone, and asked if the other was 



THE PENINSULA. 71 

a Mississippian. "Yes," was the reply. "Then 
hokl your position," said Newhall, and galloped on. 
For nearly a mile his road lay through the camps 
and hospitals of the enemy, and some new obstacle 
arose and the risk increased every instant. At 
last he was suddenly brought to a halt by a sentry, 
who put a pistol to his head and ordered him to 
dismount, and not speak above a whisper. New- 
hall at once complied, endeavoring to pass himself 
off for a Mississippian, at which, to his extreme 
mystification, the soldier observed, " That's a good 
joke!" but in another moment he discovered that 
his captor was one of our own pickets. The man 
would not believe it, struck a light, and detained 
him for half an hour, but at last reluctantly let him 
go, half- minded to shoot him, out of disappointment. 
Newhall hurried on, and finally reached headquar- 
ters. He found General McClellan on horseback, 
anxiously awaiting his return. He delivered Gene- 
ral Franklin's report, which was the first news that 
had been received from him, and was warmly thank- 
ed by McClellan, who assured him that his service 
would not be forgotten. But it Avas of the greatest 
importance that a second message should reach 
General Franklin, and General McClellan asked if 
he would attempt it again. Newhall replied that 
Franklin had said it Avould be impossible even to 
return the first time, but that he was willing to 
try. He got a fresh horse, and set off a second 



72 WALTER S. NEWHALL. 

time, alone: "As everybody said I'd be taken, 
and I thought that one was enough for that pur- 
pose. It was 3 o'clock a. m. when I got fairly 
on the road again, and having almost seven miles 
to go before reaching the fork at the bridge, I made 
the horse put out his best foot first, and arrived in 
the neighborhood just before daybreak. I rode 
slowly for a short distance before reaching the 
turning-point, to give the beast a few miles of fresh 
wind and legs, in case I had to run the firing. I 
gave him the spur in time to get up a pretty fair 
'home stretch' just as we were passing the most 
dubious place. My horse caved in just after getting 
me out of harm's way, and I dismounted to rest us 
both. I had been here about five minutes, when 
the enemy commenced shelling the woods in front 
of the bridge, and finding the coast clear, came 
thundering over the bridge and up the hill with a 
cheer. I didn't stop to ask any questions, and 
followed the General, who arrived at General Mc- 
Clellan's headquarters just as I caught him." 

General Franklin, acting on the first order, had 
anticipated the second. After all the fatigue, 
anxiety, want of food and loss of sleep, of the pre- 
ceding week, [N^ewhall's head had been cool and 
clear enough for such exciting work, and he had 
ridden sixty-four miles, between dusk and dawn in 
the short summer's night, beset with perils of every 
sort. He made light of this feat, as of everything 



THE PENINSULA. 73 

he did ; but it was remembered long afterwards, by 
those who had no personal interest in him, as one 
of the most gallant exploits of the campaign. 

" Colonel Averell was to-day promoted to a Briga- 
dier General, and has charge of all the cavalry of 
the Army of the Potomac." 

" July 5th. Something is on foot, and we expect 
to be off in a day or two, just resting our horses 
now." 

"July 9th. The enemy have withdrawn their 
pickets from the neighborhood of Charles City 
Road. I have been engaged for three days in 
making a grand map of the surrounding country, 
position of the gunboats, &c., to be forwarded to 
General McClellan." 

" July 13th. Have been out all day making maps 
of the country, and am hard at work making them 
'look pretty.' " 

"July 16th. No news whatever in the military 
line. I see by the paper that some one at Fortress 
Monroe has been making a fool of himself, writing 
about my adventure in communicating with General 
Franklin." 

Here his hatred of notoriety came out again. 
But he was not destined to hear the last of this 
adventure. A few days later he received a letter 
from a gentleman at the North, requesting a cir- 
cumstantial account of his carrying the message to 
General Franklin, to be inserted in a work entitled, 
6 



74 WALTER S. NEW HALL. 

'The Heroic Men and Actions of the War,' and 
begging for any incidents of the battle of Malvern 
Hill, and personal descriptions of the Generals, 
which he could give. Newhall's sense of the ludi- 
crous was roused by the idea of figuring among the 
heroic men of the war, and he wrote a long narra- 
tive, in the true Munchausen vein, interspersed with 
caricatures of the diiferent Generals. On second 
thought, however, he did not send it, but replied 
civilly, though briefly, that he had only done his 
duty, and did not consider his service of sufficient 
importance or interest to the public to merit a place 
in the proposed work. 

He passed the rest of that sad summer on the 
James River, constantly engaged in making maps 
of the adjacent country, for the use of the command- 
ing General. He had never studied topography, 
but his talent for drawing, combined with his power 
of comprehending the exact position of every stream 
and hill in a tract of country, made his maps of 
great value. He wrote many bright letters home ; 
for, amid all his occupations and distractions, he 
never for a moment forgot those whose anxious 
thoughts were following him from afar, with the 
love and solicitude that cannot be written or told. 
He was not fond of writing, but in the midst of the 
most trying campaigns, in the heat of summer and 
cold of winter, at any hour of the busy day or weary 



THE PENINSULA. 75 

night, he "would snatch a moment to send a few 
words of comfort, or some rapid sketch, to his 
parents and brothers. 

On the 24th July, he writes : " General Averell 
wants to get up a cricket club in the regiments, but 
I will have nothing to do with it, as I am sure there 
will be a ' catch' in it, somewhere. It's very agreea- 
ble, for instance, to have a quiet little game, but not 
so amusing to play all day and then stand guard 
all night, or to get a good crack on the leg on one 
day, and to go on a forty-mile scout the next. 
Cricket and chemistry may work together very well, 
but what soldier ever, ' stopped a ball' satisfac- 
torily ?" 

About the middle of August the army moved. 
General Averell's command was with General Fitz 
John Porter's division, and consequently not in the 
next battles, but was again acting as rear-guard, and 
constantly doing picket duty while in camp at Wil- 
liamsburg. The insidious poison of the climate had 
slowly crept into Newhall's veins, during these long, 
hot months of hard work. He had fought through 
one fever, in the beginning of the campaign, and 
was now struggling with another. On the 29th of 
August, he says: "I have been under the weather 
lately, but owing to a great scarcity of medicine, 
I am rapidly recovering. Shall be here some time, 
and when shipped, land at Alexandria. Our squa- 
dron returned last night, after two days' picket 



76 WALTER S. NEWHALL. 

duty. Probably there isn't a rebel soldier within 
ten miles." 

Two days after this cheery letter, came a tele- 
gram from Fortress Monroe, saying that he was to 
leave for home the next day, and begging his father 
to meet him in Baltimore. There was not a word 
about being ill, but his friends felt misgivings. 
His father was on the wharf when the Bay Line 
steamer came in, and found him on board, too weak 
to leave his berth. He put him into good hands in 
Baltimore, and went to Washington by the next 
train, to get a sick-leave. Fortunately there was 
no delay, and he returned to Baltimore the same 
afternoon, with the leave, and the news of his son's 
promotion to a captaincy. 

Newhallwas so ill and feeble, that no one thought 
he would be fit for service that winter, but a month 
at home restored his strength wonderfully. Early 
in October, hearing the report that he was to be 
put upon recruiting duty in Philadelphia, he in- 
sisted upon returning to camp. A younger brother, 
the next in age to himself, went with him, having 
obtained a lieutenancy in the same regiment. 



THE FIRST WINTER IN THE FIELD. 77 



CHAPTER V. 

THE FIRST WINTER IN THE FIELD. 

" The sharpened ear, the piercing eye, 
The quick resolve in danger nigh ; 
The gpeed, that in the flight or chase 
Outstripped the Carib's rapid race ; 
The steady brain, the sinewy limb, 
To leap, to climb, to dive, to swim ; 
The iron frame, inured to bear 
Each dire inclemency of air. 
Nor less, confirmed to undergo 
Fatigue's faint chill and famine's throe. 
These arts he proved, his land to save, 
In peril oft, by land or wave." 

The autumn of 1862 was one of constant alarm 
for Pennsylvania. September had seen the tide of 
war surge up to our borders, to be met and turned 
at Antietam, and roll back again on Maryland and 
Virginia. Early in October, Stuart spread con- 
sternation among the southern counties. At first, 
the whole Confederate army was supposed to be 
again advancing, but it turned out to be only a 
raid, though a very brilliant and successful one. 
The bold rider and his merry men swept through 
the rich valleys and quiet towns, taking what they 
liked, paying, when they chose, in Confederate 



78 WALTER S.NEWHALL. 

money — a quaint conceit ! — behaved very well for 
moss-troopers, and cantered round our whole army 
and home again ; leaving the fat farmers grumbling 
over their empty barns, and shutting their stable 
doors after the steeds were stolen. 

Newhall joined his regiment at Hagerstown, 
Maryland, on October 3d, immediately took com- 
mand of his company, and started with the rest in 
pursuit of Stuart. 

" McConnellsburg, October 13th. We arrived 
here this morning, via Hancock and Harronsville, 
our object being to cut the rebels off at this point. 
Of course they took another road, and having es- 
caped the other cavalry sent out after them, have 
recrossedthe Potomac." 

"Camp at Indian Springs, October 24th. We 
left camp on the 18th, and marched to Clear 
Springs on the same evening ; next day our squa- 
dron moved across the canal and river at Cherry 
Run Station, (Baltimore and Ohio Railroad,) and 
having examined the neighborhood of Hedgesville, 
marched to Hancock, on the Virginia side. After 
a rest of two days, we were ordered to this place, 
to picket the roads in the vicinity and to guard the 
fords. We learn from the Union people of Virgi- 
nia, that Jackson has gone to Bunker Hill, and 
that the coming fight will take place in that neigh- 
borhood. The rebels have about three thousand 
men at Hedgesville, mostly infantry ; and if Jack- 



THE FIRST WINTER IX THE FIELD. 79 

son only knew how afraid our officers arc of him, we 
should be folloAving up another raid about once a 
week. What a fortunate thing that he's so modest !" 
" October 26th. We are all well, wishing most 
heartily to be relieved, and return to camp." 

" St. James's College, Md., October 28th. Back 
in camp again. People say, the army is crossing 
the Potomac, and we are on an hour's notice to 
march." 

" Camp at Berlin, October 31st. We marched 
here this morning from Pleasant Valley, where 
we passed last night. Twenty-one to-day ! Much 
spree on hard crackers and coffee." 

" Camp near Amissville, Va., November 9th. We 
have been very hard at work since leaving camp at 
St. James's College. We have been driving Hamp- 
ton and Stuart from all their chosen positions in the 
Gaps. Some splendid charging has been made by 
the 5th Regulars and 8th New York Cavalry. No- 
body hurt in our regiment. Harry" (his youngest 
brother) "is made of the proper material for soldier- 
ing, and a person not acquainted with the facts 
might suppose he had been at it all his life. Gene- 
ral Averell has gone to Warrenton sick, leaving 
us under General Pleasanton." 

"Waterloo, November 13th. We marched here 
from Amissville yesterday ; find no forage, and so 
we probably leave to-day. All well, and, having 
tents, are very comfortable." 



80 WALTER S.NEWHALL. 

" Warrenton, November 14th. We marched 
here from Waterloo this morning, and being in a 
first-rate fence-rail country, we manage to keep the 
weather out. Colonel Mcintosh takes charge of 
our regiment to-day. He is a fine man and a good 
officer ; we have no fears of being badly off under 
his command." 

Newhall writes as cheerfully as ever, and makes 
light of the cold and hardships. Perhaps in the 
camp, men had work enough to keep their spirits 
up ; but in the cities, this was a weary time. Du- 
ring the later autumn there had been no event of 
importance or interest, except General McClellan's 
being relieved of the command of the Army of the 
Potomac. There was very severe weather, and a 
heavy snow-storm late in November. The troops 
were all on the march, with no shelter, and the way 
blocked up before them by the drifts. It all soon 
disappeared, however. The month that followed 
was singularly mild and lovely, and depression 
gradually gave way to expectation, as the season 
advanced, and everybody knew that General Burn- 
side would not go into winter quarters without a 
battle. 

" Headquarters Picket, November 23d. I have 
been from camp four days, guarding the fords that 
cross Aquia Creek, about four miles from its mouth. 
The creek cannot be forded, and there being no 
boats in the neighborhood, I merely have to watch 



THE FIRST WINTER IN THE FIELD. 81 

the river and creek, and see that they do not leave 
their beds some fine morning." 

" Camp near Belle Plains, November 26th. We 
are well located on Potomac Creek and the Rich- 
mond and Fredericksburg Railroad, about nine 
miles from Aquia Creek. All Avell. Tents and 
stores in good order." 

" December 4th. Picketing. Some of our regi- 
ment have been caught lately. Harry has gone 
out for three days, to try his hand at it." 

"December 6th. Please send me fifty pairs 
of gloves, good quality, strong and warm, for a 
Christmas present for Company A. Army inactive. 
I have been promoted to the command of a squa- 
dron, and complimented by the Colonel for the 
way in which it is handled, and am quite proud 
of it." 

"December 7th. I relieve Harry on picket 
to-morrow." 

" December 12th. In the field. We left camp 
yesterday at an early hour, and reached the battle- 
field at noon, but didn't participate. Storming 
not yet resumed." 

" December 14th, 8 A. M. Harry was sent to 
Hartwood Church on picket yesterday. The artil- 
lery has just opened the ball for to-day's work. 
Nothing gained yesterday. Franklin reported 
doing well, and driving the rebels by degrees." 
This was the first battle of Fredericksburg,— a 



82 WALTER S. NEWH ALL. 

name as fatal to US as Bull Run. iN^ewliall's regiment 
was not engaged, did not cross the Rappahannock, 
indeed, and returned to their camp at Belle Plains 
on the 16th of December. A few days afterwards 
he writes : 

" We returned to camp yesterday morning, hav- 
ing passed one day and two nights in the woods, in 
search of our friends of the other persuasion, whom 
we heard were in the neighborhood of Kelly's Ford. 
Harry got a bad tumble, while charging the rebel 
pickets down a hill, but is all right now." 

The excitement of scout and picket duty, and the 
various facilities for violent death which their life 
afforded, did not seem sufficient for these young 
bloods. The officers of the 3d and 6th Pennsylva- 
nia Cavalry, which were encamped a few miles 
apart, agreed to ride a steeple-chase in the holi- 
days. Newhall, as usual, the hero of the occasion, 
gives the following description of it. 

SPORT IN CAMP. 

"December 26th. Fred," (his elder brother,) 

"T , M , D , and E.," (officers of the 

6th Pennsylvania Cavalry), " came over, and we 
lunched at 1 o'clock, by way of fortifying ourselves. 
We were busy enough in the forenoon, putting up 
hurdles and digging ditches, but we didn't feel 
tired when Officers' Call sounded for the officers to 



THE FIRST WINTER IN THE FIELD. 83 

assemble and the track to be cleared. About forty 
had promised to run, but the timid ones, (all who 
had any sense, you will say,) began to fall out, and 

at the word, ' go,' only eight got away, Mc , 

M , B , D , W , T , Fred, and 

myself." 

The course was three-quarters of a mile round, 
and the inside of the track marked by a series of 
guidons. There were four obstacles to be cleared 
in the race, viz. : first, a row of four bales of hay, 
with a bar above them, the interval being filled up 
with brush, &c., the whole being four feet and a 
half high ; secondly, a ditch, five feet Avide, with a 
bank three and a half feet high on the farther side, 
topped by a horizontal pole ; thirdly, four bales of 
hay, arranged as the first, but making a leap of five 
feet ; the last Avas a pile of brush, six feet across, 
and from four to five feet in height. 

" We started in good style, B , Mc , 

M , and W , slightly in advance. At No. 1, 

Mc 's horse jumped too soon, struck the hurdle, 

and away they went, heels over head, Mc con- 
siderably bruised. T 's horse refused, and bolt- 
ed for the camp of the 1st Massachusetts Cavalry. 
Fred was obliged to haul to one side, to prevent strik- 
ing Mc , and he lost quite a lot of ground by 

it. W now made the running, followed closely 

by M , B , and T) . B 's horse re- 
fused at the second leap, causing some little delay 



84 WALTER S.NEWHALL. 

to D , who was right after him. As we neared 

the third, and by far the stiffest jump, W 

opened the gap between himself and M , who 

was next, and cleared it beautifully. D fol- 
lowed M , and my horse took it at a flying leap, 

which must have measured twenty-one feet. Fred 
now closed up and passed me at No. 4, going like 

the wind. W gradually gained, up to the third 

guidon, and was twenty yards ahead of M , 

who was next. All this time my horse was hard 
held, but as we neared the third guidon, I gave the 

powerful fellow his head, and swept past D , 

M , and then Fred, in less time than it takes 

to tell it. I was fast gaining on W , when he 

skipped one of the guidons, giving himself about a 
hundred yards. As we swung around the fourth 
guidon, my horse rushed for the Massachusetts 
camp, and I worried him considerably in regaining 
the track. In getting back, I was obliged to take 
two ditches, which he didn't mind in the least. 
W 's horse was now failing, and my black keep- 
ing his original pace, soon brought us near enough 
to each other to make it exceedingly doubtful who 
would win. You can scarcely imagine the excite- 
ment as we came up the home stretch, my horse 

gaining at every stride. W passed the score 

about two lengths ahead, but handsomely admitted 
that he had not kept the track, and I was declared 
the winner. Fred was second, M third, D 



THE FIRST "WINTER IN THE FIELD. 85 

nowhere. Me goes home this morning badly 

hurt." 

" December 29th. We leave camp to-morrow 
morning, to be gone four days on a scout or picket 
duty." 

" January 2d, 18G3. We have just halted in the 
woods for the night, and the General has sent for 
some forage and ' McClellan pies,' preparatory to 
going somewhere ; and goodness knows, we hope to 
do something to bring cavalry out of the sort of 
disgrace into Avhich it has fallen, owing more to 
somebody in Washington pretending to tell us at 
what corner of the street we shall find the enemy, 
than to inactivity on our part. The fact is, we are 
worked to death and nobody knows it, because 
they never let us do anything for which cavalry 
was intended by the author of this branch of the 
service. The ' Happy New Year' found us on picket 
on the New Ball's Road, after having charged 
through Warrenton in good style. Four or five 
hurt." 

This is his only mention of the charge through 
Warrenton, a spirited, though bloodless aifair. A 
band of picked men, to the number of a thousand, 
had been detailed to make a raid through the 
neighborhood of Richmond. It was commanded 
by General Averell, and Newhall was one of the 
captains. A couple of days after leaving camp 
they reached Warrenton, where they saw a body of 



86 WALTER S. NEW HALL. 

Confederates, drawn up in the main street of the 
town. Stuart was known to be close at hand, and 
our troops supposing that they were at last to test 
whether they or these bold rebels were the better 
men, immediately formed and charged, Newhall 
being one of the foremost of the column. The 
enemy immediately broke and scattered, and our 
soldiers dashed on at full speed up the long street, 
expecting at every instant to encounter a stronger 
force. But there were no more Southerners to be 
seen, and the cavalry rode back again, to report 
that the coast was clear. Stuart had been there 
with his whole command, and had withdrawn not 
two hours before. The party whom our men saw 
w'as only the rear-guard. The charge was none the 
less gallant because their opponents turned out to 
be "nine men in buckram," as at the onset they 
fancied nothing less than Stuart's entire force 
awaiting them. This was the whole fruit of their 
expedition, as at that very juncture they were re- 
called by an order from Washington, and forced to 
return to camp, chafing under the restraint and dis- 
appointment. 

" January 3d. Not off yet, you see. We hear 
somebody is preparing a campaign for us. Splen- 
did, isn't it ?" 

" January 7th. Harry is now acting on General 
Averell's staff. I left him in command at Hart- 
wood Church. I have just come into camp, to ex- 



THE FIRST WINTER IN THE FIELD. 87 

amine muster-rolls and accoimts. The General is 
here, awaiting orders. We are having splendid 
weather, very warm and clear for the season. The 
army is under twelve hours' notice ; what that means 
nobody knows — except, perhaps, the rebels. Win- 
ter quarters is the talk, but our Western armies 
don't appear to take part in the conversation." 

" January 18th. We haven't moved yet, owing to 
the fine state of the weather and roads." 

" January 22d. In camp, and nearly drowned out. 
The army moved toward Hartwood Church day 
before yesterday, but is kept on this side the river 
by the mud and rain. Harry has gone with a 
hundred and fifty men of our regiment, carrying 
' McClellan pies' and other eatables, to Hooker's 
men, as the wagons can't get along at all." 

" January 26th. Cavalry leaves this mornino-." 

"January 30th. No it didn't." 

" February 2d. Leaving camp for a turn of picket 
duty." 

" February 7th. Returned to camp. Our bri- 
gade destroyed the railroad bridge over the Rappa- 
hannock, on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, 
three days ago ; a splendid aff"air, the rebels very 
mad about it ; five of our men wounded. I was 
on picket, and didn't participate." 

"February 20th. Picket for three days." 

"February 27th. Have just returned from the 



88 WALTER S. NEWHALL. 

river. Have been in the saddle since 4 a. m., and 
it is now 10 J P. M." 

" March 7th. Harrj and I have just come off 
duty from the neighborhood of Hartwood Church. 
Our boys had a smart skirmish there the other day, 
and we went out to see what the matter was. On 
receipt of the news at camp, we were ordered after 
the rebels, — followed them up to Kelly's Ford, 
where they crossed, and we came back to camp. 
On the 4th, I went off again on picket. While 
there I received a flag of truce from General Lee. 
The captain of his staff was a fine fellow, and we 
passed a pleasant evening in awaiting General 
Hooker's reply. He showed me a letter from his 
wife, who held her baby's hand to write a post- 
script." 

" March 11th. From the preparations at head- 
quarters, it is evident that a move of the cavalry 
is in contemplation." 

" March 13th. Colonel Mcintosh has made Har- 
ry adjutant of our regiment. I have been detach- 
ed for special duty, the nature of which I know 
nothing about as yet." 

This record of Newhall's first winter in active 
service shows how constantly part of our cavalry 
was employed and exposed, although fighting no 
battles and gaining no fame. They did hard work 
and good service, and the officers were sometimes 
captured, and the men shot, while on scouts and 



THERAIDS. 89 

picket, or in the freciuent skirmishes. But the 
winter was now over, and in spite of the wet 
spring, and roads like morasses, a general move- 
ment was on foot. 



CHAPTER VI. 

THE RAIDS. 

"< Boot, saddle, to horse and away!" 

" St. Greorge ! a stirring life they lead, 
That have such neighbors near." 

March was cold, windy, and wet, and after the 
mild winter, " the spring came slowly up this way." 
There had been nothing more serious than skir- 
mishes along the lines of the Army of the Potomac 
for some months ; in one of these, however, some 
Confederate officers had fallen, and General Fitz- 
Hugh Lee sent for their bodies under a flag of truce. 
A story went the rounds of the newspapers, that 
the Southern officers Avho brought the flag, in re- 
turning, left a letter with the pickets from Lee to 
Averell, who had been his classmate at West Point, 
containing a friendly challenge, to come over the 
river and ride a race with him. Whether this be 
true or not. General Averell and his brigade made 
a sudden raid in the direction of Culpeper, crossed 
7 



90 WALTER S. NEWH ALL. 

« 

the Rappahannock at Kelly's Ford, in the face of 
the enemy's fire, had a hard fight for several hours 
with the rebels under Generals Stuart and Fitz-Hugh 
Lee, beat, drove, and scattered them thoroughly, 
and returned to the northern bank of the river, 
triumphant. This was the first real cavalry fight 
of the war, and our complete success Avas a great 
satisfaction to all, and a great surprise to many. 
Ever since the beginning of the war, the superiority 
of the Southern horse had been arrogantly claimed 
by themselves, and unwillingly admitted by some of 
us, ours never being allowed a fair chance of distinc- 
tion. There had been little use for them among 
the woods and swamps of the Peninsula, and yet 
they had done themselves credit at Hanover Court- 
house, (not to go back to Springfield,) while the 
destruction of the Oglethorpe Light Horse proved 
at least, that the "chivalry" were not invulnerable. 
However, their reputation was maintained by their 
own boasts, another proof of a truth which has 
been enunciated in many forms, that any fiction 
can command credence for a time, if asserted often 
and stoutly enough. Now, at last, the two met in 
fair field, and the false halo which had surrounded 
the names of Fitz-Hugh Lee and Stuart, vanished 
at once and forever. The Southerners had for 
some time given up their once favorite taunt of 
Northern cowardice, or it would have been thrown 
in their teeth again that day by the dash of the 



THE RAIDS. 



91 



whole brigade, and countless acts of individual 
daring. Many men who were wounded continued 
in the fight until it was over. A Major of the First 
Rhode Island Cavalry was struck in the neck by 
a ball at the outset, but stanched the wound with 
his handkerchief, and remained at the head of his 
command until the end. 

The ncAvs of this engagement took the North 
probably as much by surprise as it did the South. 
The first intimation that many had of the fight, 
were telegrams announcing the wounds, death, 
capture or safety of a son or brother. It was thus 
that the tidings came to Newhall's family : " Charley 
Treichel slightly wounded; Harry and I, all right." 
The next day the newspapers were full of the action, 
and Newhall was particularly mentioned among 
those who had distinguished themselves. A letter 
soon came from him, giving a full account of the 
battle. 

"Potomac Run, March 18th. I reported for 
special duty as directed, and was ordered to take 
fifty picked men, and proceed to the house of Mr. 

, ten miles beyond our pickets, understood 

to be a rendezvous for spies, bushwhackers, &c., 
and be there at 10 P. M. on Sunday. The night 
was fearfully dark, but I arrived at the house 
at 9| P. M., and surrounded it ; the family had 
gone to bed ; found no suspicious parties, and re- 



92 WALTER S. XEAVHALL. 

turned to camp safely at 4 A. M. on Monday. At 
8 o'clock we started on our little raid. Our passage 
at the ford Avas disputed. There were several men 
killed and one wounded, while forcing it. Major 
Chamberlain, chief of General Averell's staff, was 
shot twice in the face before a crossing was effected, 
when he sent back word to General Averell that 
he had carried out his instructions to the very let- 
ter. He was picked up more dead than alive, and 
carried to camp. His wounds are very bad, but he 
still lives. The crossing was admirably managed. 
We didn't become generally engaged until the whole 
force was on the other side of the river. We were 
massed just above the ford, when the skirmishers 
commenced popping away at the advancing enemy. 
We were rapidly deployed into line, and the whole 
force ordered to advance, which we did in fine 
style. About midway in a narroAV strip of woods, 
the rebels became belligerent and drove in our 
skirmishers rapidly on the reserves, following up 
with a charge. The guns were unlimbered in 
an instant, and the first volley changed the aspect 
of affairs, and gave us a chance to push beyond the 
woods, where we formed in column of echelon, ready 
for the charge. The ground was everything that 
could be wished. On the other side of a wide plain 
the rebels were drawn up. The artillery opened 
upon them, when a large body advanced at a sharp 



THE RAIDS. 93 

trot, evidently about to charge the guns. The move- 
ment was anticipated, and the First Rhode Island, 
and Fourth Pennsylvania, were ordered against 
them. It was a magnificent spectacle. So it struck 
the rebels, who halted a moment to look, before the 
shock should mix things. To their minds the lessen- 
ing distance didn't appear to suggest any change 
for the better, so they unanimously adopted the 
wise but ignominious resolution to clear out ! This 
party was headed by the immortal Stuart and 
Fitz-Hugh Lee ; but in spite of this, away they 
went, closely followed, for almost half a mile, by 
the men under Colonel Duffie, a portion of whose 
command pierced the rebel line, but being unsup- 
ported, the brave fellows were lost. The Secesli 
tried twice more in this neighborhood, but with 
worse success than at first, becoming more easily 
and worse demoralized each time. Again their whole 
line was ordered forward, and again they tried for 
the guns, but we had it all our own way with them. 
At last they charged down in three columns. We 
held our carbine-fire till we could almost see the 
whites of their eyes, and away they went and we 
after them. This rout was well covered by their 
artillery, however, which now opened upon us vi- 
gorously. My squadron, which became the head 
of the column, marching across their fire, seemed 
suddenly to become an object of great ill feeling : 
scarcely a man but had dirt thrown over him. Some 



94 WALTER S. NEW HALL. 

wereAvonrlerfully fortunate in their escape. Several 
horses were shot, but not a man hurt. About this 
time Major White's horse was killed, also Charley 
Treichel's. Charley had his leg a little in the way, 
but very fortunately escaped with only a flesh 
wound. Our ammunition being nearly spent, we 
recrossed the river and passed the night at Mor- 
risville. We lost six officers killed and wounded, 
and twenty-three men ; thirty more were captured. 
Rebel loss still greater. Harry acted as adjutant 
of our regiment during the engagement, Avhich 
lasted from sunrise till about dark, and though I 
say it, &c., Harry did his Avhole duty handsomely. 
We are both well and in good spirits, and more 
than ever sure that in a fair field the rebel cavalry 
can't stand ours." 

At the same time General Averell wrote to a 
friend in Philadelphia : " The old Third Pennsyl- 
vania behaved like the best of regulars, and your 
boys," (Treichel and the Newhalls,) "distinguished 
themselves. I thought they would get hurt several 
times, but am thankful they escaped with a few 
bruises." 

A day or tAvo afterwards Newhall came home, 
with his friend Captain Treichel, but returned to 
camp at the end of a week, to work ofi" his riotous 
living, as he said. On his arrival, he writes, 

*' Colonel came down to Washington in the 

cars with me, and I was surprised to hear him 



THERAIDS. 95 

ppeak so higlily of our little affair over the river. He 
said: 'If the object of the reconnoissance was 
merely to prove the superiority of our officers and 
men, it was eminently successful, and he was glad 
that everybody saw it in the light of a splendid 
cavalry fight, resulting so entirely in our favor.' 
As nearly as I can remember, these are his exact 
words. An anticipated attack on our pickets, to- 
day, did not take place. We were all saddled up 
when I arrived, and as I came up the hill, the 
satisfaction of being just in time was very great." 

" April 6th. The grand review came off to-day. 
Everybody and everybody's staff participated." 

" April 11th. We recovered from a slight attack 
of picket duty yesterday. We move again day after 
to-morrow, at 5| A. M." 

"Bealeton, Orange and Alexandria Railroad, 
April 18th. We withdrew from the banks of the 
river this morning to the music of the enemy's 
guns, if you can' call it so. 

' Music, says Halleck, is everywhere ; 

Harmony guides the whole creation ; 
But when a bullet sings in the air, 
So close to your head that it touches your hair, 
To enjoy it requires a taste quite rare, 

With a certain amount of cultivation.' 

And what is true of a bullet is equally so with 
shell or solid shot, perhaps a little more so. The 
old story, however, holds good: 'Nobody hurt.' 



96 WALTEK S. NEWHALL. 

The rain has at least postponed the crossing of the 
river, but if we ever get hold of Stuart, Treason 
on horseback will be severely dealt with. The in- 
closed offer from General Roseerans's Acting Adju- 
tant-General is very flattering, but I cannot accept 
it. The Third Pennsylvania is good enough. The 
* opportunities for distinction' will have to be turned 
over to some one more ambitious." 

This off"er was a majority in a Western cavalry 
regiment, but his esprit cle corps made him prefer 
to wait for promotion in his own. 

" Fred may have written to you what I have been 
about lately, and what was expected of me. If so, 
you have the secret satisfaction of knowing that I 
was very highly complimented by General Averell, 
and you will be good enough to keep the matter 

among yourselves, that the feelings of the th 

may not be hurt, or their reputation injured. Please 
be very careful on this point." 

The cavalry was now in constant motion, as 
General Stoneman was watching his opportunity 
to cross the river, which, in common with all the 
streams in this part of the country, was prodi- 
giously swollen by the spring rains. Several at- 
tempts were made, but the time had not yet come. 
Newhall was acting on General Averell's staff, and 
was chosen to lead a dismounted party across the 
Kappahannock, at Beverly Ford, to carry the 
enemy's rifle-pits upon the opposite side. He 



THERAIDS. 97 

looked forward to this with great enthusiasm, and 
having carefully studied the position, made all his 
plans for the attack ; but the scheme was abandoned, 
and the river crossed at another point. Shortly 

afterwards he was put in command of the th, 

a new regiment, whose colonel was thought not 
quite equal to such an occasion yet. Newhall led 
them all through the brisk work that followed, and 
the example of such daring and discipline as his, 
must have had a lasting effect on raw troops. One 
night they had bivouacked in an open space on the 
bank of a small stream, an officer having been sent 
to picket the opposite side, Avhere there were heavy 
woods. The pickets were not properly posted, and 
in the middle of the night a party of the enemy's 
infantry fired upon our men from across the stream. 

It was a complete surprise, and the th, wearied 

out with a succession of forced marches, and startled 
from their sleep to find themselves under fire, were 
seized with a panic. The terrified horses broke 
loose and galloped madly to and fro, the saddles 
and arms were lost, and the whole regiment was in 
the direst confusion, the men running from the 
bullets, which were rained upon them by the invisi- 
ble enemy. The Third Pennsylvania, however, on 
the first alarm, seized their carbines, and rallied 
round their officers, and in a short time were at 
the water's edge returning the fire. Newhall had 
started up at the first volley, and seeing the men 



98 W A L T E R S. N E W H A L L. 

of his command flying, posted himself directly in 
their path, shouting, " Take your arms and follow 
the Third !" and felling every man that attempted to 
pass. The others, suddenly brought to a stand, 
seeing this threatening figure in their way, and 
their comrades on the ground at his feet, rallied 
for a moment, and hearing the simple order, " Fol- 
low the Third !" again shouted in a commanding and 
cheerful voice, began to pluck up their spirits, fell 
into order, followed the Third to the bank, and aided 
them in driving the rebels away. A number of the 
latter were killed, while, strangely enough, not one 
of ours was fatally hurt. This is the circumstance 
to which Newhall refers in the preceding letter. 
He mentions none of these particulars, but they 
became known some time afterwards through Ge- 
neral Averell, who was on the spot, and told the 
story in Washington, as an illustration of his young 
aid's coolness, and " tAvo o'clock in the morning 
courage." 

All this time, General Stoneman's raid, the most 
successful, and brilliant that has been made on 
either side, was in full progress. Buford, Ave- 
rell, Gregg, and Kilpatrick, were streaming like 
meteors across the enemy's country, in various 
directions, destroying bridges and railroads, burn- 
ing the Confederate commissary stores, capturing 
the Richmond Home-guard, (including the mayor 
and corporation,) who had innocently come out to 



THERAIDS. 99 

see if anything was the matter, and entirely cut- 
tincr off all communication between General Lee's 
army and his base. Meanwhile Fredericksburg 
was stormed for the second time, and taken. But 
alas ! in that very hour our army was beaten and 
driven back across the river, shot and slain by 
thousands in their retreat, Avhile the news echoed 
like a wail through the country, and every city of 
the North was like Toledo after the battle of Xeres, 
or Edinburgh after Flodden. There was little 
time for writing during these breathless days, but 
Newhall managed to send a couple of notes home 
while on the raid. In one of these he says, " We 
tried to burn the bridge near Rapid Ann Station, on 
the Alexandria and Orange Railroad. The rebels 
were kind enough to do it for us, after fighting all 
day. To horse !" 

The cavalry returned to their old quarters, to 
learn the disaster of Chancellorville, and the loss 
of Fredericksburg. The whole object of the raid 
had been to secure the fruits of victory, and this 
defeat made it all sheer waste of time and vital 
force. Newhall utters no complaint, makes no 
moan over the total failure of their best endeavor. 
There is not a single comment in one of his letters 
on the calamity, although those who knew him 
know what his emotions must have been, and those 
who have read his story thus far, may guess. But 
he never wrote or spoke of his sentiments and feel- 



100 WALTER S. NEWHALL. 

ings. The entire absence of allusion to himself in 
the whole course of his correspondence, is a re- 
markable illustration of his extreme reticence. 

" Camp near Potomac Creek, May 7th. Here 
we are, back in our old camping ground, all well. 
Arrived last night. We have good news this after- 
noon. General Stoneman has cut the railroad and 
telegraph communication between Richmond and 
the rebels, and the army is ordered to be ready to 
move at a moment's notice." 

" May 9th. Fred has arrived at headquarters 
with despatches from General Stoneman." 

"May 14th. We all feel blue about Stoneman's 
treatment and Averell being relieved, but hope it 
will turn out right in the end." 

" May 22d. We had a little cricket in camp yes- 
terday. Of course, I worked too hard, and am sick 
after it, but will be well to-morrow, and take it 
more soberly next time." 

" May 24th. We change camp to Warrenton, to- 
morrow. Not another raid." 

" Camp Reserve Picket, near Hartwood Church, 
May 28th. Our being here is the result "of unsuc- 
cessful strategy on the part of . We marched 

to Bealeton, reported to General Gregg, and were 
on the march back before daylight the next morn- 
ing." 

General Averell was relieved, and shortly after- 
wards sent to Western Virginia, to take charge of 



■ «ii«rfiiir>i ri 



THE RAIDS. 101 

a brigade of cavalry and a large force of infantry 
and artillery. On taking leave of his old command, 
he wrote the following letter to an influential 
friend : 

" My dear Sir : In the Third Pennsylvania Ca- 
valry, which was recently in my command, there are 
several meritorious young officers, Avho from their 
superior qualifications and experience deserve pro- 
motion. Among the most prominent, for whom 1 
have the honor to request your favorable considera- 
tion and influence, is Captain W. S. Newhall, who, 
from his high character, bearing, and eminent 
ability, his energy, gallantry, and excellent judg- 
ment, has won the respect, esteem, and confidence 
of all about him, superiors and subordinates. In 
my opinion, he is iv ell fitted to command a regiment 
of cavalry, whether old or new ; and I ask, that if 
you should have an opportunity to do so, you will 
recommend him for the appointment of colonel. 

" I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient 
servant, 

" W. W. AVEKELL, 

"B. G. Vols." 

Colonel J. B. Mcintosh succeeded to the com- 
mand of the brigade, and shortly afterwards he 
also wrote to recommend Newhall for a colonelcy, 
speaking in equally high terms of his character 
and qualifications. 



102 WALTEK S. NEW HALL. 



CHAPTER VII. 

HOME INVADED. 

" Up and rouse ye ! time is fleeting, 

And we yet have much to do. 
Up and haste ye through the city, 

Stir the burghers stout and true ; . 
Gather all our scattered people, 

Fling the banner out once more." 

" And there was mounting in hot haste ; the steed. 

The mustering squadron, and the clattering car. 
Went pouring forward with impetuous speed, 

And swiftly forming in the ranks of war ; 
And the deep thunder, jieal on pea], afar 

And near, the beat of the alarming drum. 
Roused up the soldier ere the morning star ; 

While thronged the citizens, with terror dumb, 

Or whispering with white lips, ' The foe, they come, 
they come I' " 

"Rebellion in this land shall lose his sway, 
Meeting the check of such another day." 

The second battle of Fredericksburg threw a 
heavy gloom over the public mind ; even the most 
sanguine rallied slowly from such a shock. With 
June, the alarms of the autumn began to revive. 
The Southern army was in constant motion, and 
actions of more or less importance were taking 
place daily. There were some sharp fights, like 
Beverly Ford, Brandy Station, Aldie, and Upper- 



HOME IMVADED. 103 

ville ; but none of these were general engagements, 
and a general movement was evidently on foot. 
Many thought that Washington was threatened, 
others that the attempt on Baltimore was to be 
renewed, while not a few had their fears for our 
cwn borders. The cavalry lived in the saddle that 
month, and all the fighting was done by them. 

" Camp near Licking Creek, June 5th. The rebel 
cavalry crossed the river yesterday, at or near 
Sulphur Springs, driving the First Massachusetts to 
the neighborhood of our camp. Of course we passed 
the next night in search of the enemy. Returned 
to camp yesterday morning shortly after daylight, 
having seen nothing. To-day Ave are under march- 
ing orders for to-morrow morning." 

" June 7th. We returned to camp last night at 
one o'clock, after a raid to Jefferson, Amissville, 
&.C., crossing Hedsman and Hazel Rivers. The 
rebels were employed elsewhere, so we didn't have 
a general engagement ; but my squadron was de- 
tached to cover the right flank of the column, and 
in the neighborhood of Waterloo, we managed to 
scare up a scouting party of about thirty men. We 
lost one horse killed, and captured one man, horse, 
&c. Nobody hurt." 

" June 12th. This is the first opportunity for 
writing since we recrossed the Rappahannock, since 
the fight. (Beverly Ford.) We have been picket- 
ing the river near Sulphur Springs. Returned to 



104 WALTER S. NEW HALL. 

camp yesterday afternoon. Fred must give you 
an account of the grand cavalry battle, as his 
position for actual observation was the best ; we of 
the left wing know little of the general engage- 
ment. After crossing at Kelly's Ford, we took 
the Stevensburg Road, and met the enemy advanc- 
ing, about a mile from the river. We skirmished for 
an hour before we got fairly to work. 

" The fight opened by the rebels, who charged the 
First Massachusetts Cavalry down a holloAV road. 
They came to the conclusion that they ' had the 
wrong chicken by the tail feathers,' and very short- 
ly changed base, with a loss of twenty-five killed 
and wounded, and a loss of sixty-four prisoners. 
The attempt to cut the line was tAvice made with- 
out success. We drove them about two miles and 
a half, and had just put our guns in position and 
opened on the enemy, when we were ordered to fall 
back io the support of General Gregg, who was 
being badly beaten. We came up just in time to 
save the Third Division, pushed through the rebel 
right, and joined the Regulars, &c., at Beverly 
Ford, just as our cavalry was recrossing the river. 
Our division passed along the line to Rappahannock 
Station, the rebels following very slowly. We lost 
only about twenty-five killed and wounded, and no 
missing — except the reporter ; captured over sixty 
prisoners, saved Gregg, and are not so much as 
mentioned in the papers, because our correspondent 



HOME INVADED. 105 

undertook to get to the rear during an important 
movement, an account of Avhicli he ' was anxious to 
furnish by the day's mail.' The Third supported the 
battery, and brought up the rear Avhen retiring." 

Of course, it was known by telegraph that there 
was hot work again on the Rappahannock, and all 
who had friends in the cavaky were in a fever of 
anxiety, while the Associated Press was vainly 
asking, " Uhi est ille reporter?'' In a day or two 
more there were full accounts, and private letters 
came, with words of cheer for some and words of 
doom for others, but the good news for all, that the 
enemy was worsted, and our men had done bravely 
and well. 

Meanwhile, the enemy's main body was advanc- 
ing steadily, and terror was spreading through the 
Cumberland Valley. Day by day the rumor and 
the dismay increased ; reports of every sort were 
rife, the most inconsistent and the most incredible. 
The morning's story would be that the enemy had 
crossed the border, by afternoon he had taken 
Chambersburg, by night he was in sight of Harris- 
burg, moving with a speed that outstripped that 
of rumor itself. The next morning would reas- 
sure the community that he was still in Maryland. 
The trouble was to know where the rebels really 
Avere, and in what force, — no such difficult thing, one 
would imagine, when it was a question of the where- 
abouts of an army of one hundred thousand men, 



106 Walter s. nevvhall, 

not eighty miles from our State capital, but never- 
theless seemingly impossible. But the alarm swelled 
like the voice of the waves at flood-tide ; each day 
it rose and fell, but each day the sound was louder 
and the dying echoes were less distant. Some be- 
lieved that this was only another raid, to reap the 
harvests from the rich valleys and uplands of Penn- 
sylvania, others already saw Lee and his army in 
possession of Philadelphia. But every twenty-four 
hours added numbers to the ranks of the timid, and 
strength to the souls of the brave. By midsum- 
mer the consternation was general, and the convic- 
tion that Lee was threatening Philadelphia was 
gaining converts. The effect was very different 
from that of any former panic ; indeed, there was 
no panic. The banks sent their specie to i!^ew 
York, a few people buried their plate, a few others 
fled across the Delaware. But the only class with 
whom the terror was universal, were the poor ne- 
groes, not the contrabands alone, but the free 
blacks, born and brought up on Northern soil, who, 
on a sudden, saw slavery yawning to devour them. 
A large portion of the community never believed 
that Lee would venture so far into a hostile coun- 
try ; the majority cheerfully prepared to meet him. 
There Avere those, too, who were sunk in disap- 
pointment and despondency, looking beyond the 
mere momentary danger to the eternal fact, that, 
after the millions of money and hosts of men which 



HOME INVADED. J 07 

Pennsylvania had given to carry on the war, the 
flood of rebellion was for the third time threatening 
to overwhelm her peaceful fields, Avhile there hardly 
remained young men in her towns to fight for the 
women and children. For the third time the bells 
clanged from morn till night, to call the people to 
arms ; for the third time the militia companies, 
which now only included those whom paramount 
duty had kept at home, Avent forth to face the foe ; 
for the third time the recruiting sergeant's drum 
was heard along the streets, from daybreak till 
midnight, while old men and boys, veterans of the 
war of 1812 and college lads in their second term, 
fell into the ranks as he passed. There was none 
of the rush and enthusiasm in enlisting of the 
early days, after Fort Sumter and Bull Run, but 
things were done in Philadelphia such as had not 
been seen since earlier days yet, the days of '76. 
Two hundred of the clergy went in a body, and 
offered themselves to the mayor, to work in the 
trenches and fortifications. An eminent Presbyte- 
rian divine, no longer young, marched through the 
streets with a drummer beside him, until he had 
collected a hundred recruits. New York and New 
Jersey regiments, some of whom had but just come 
home, after two years' service, to be paid off and 
return to their families, hastened to the rescue, 
with a noble generosity and forgetfulness of State 
feeling, which will be ever gratefully remembered 



108 WALTER S. NEWIIALL. 

by those whom they came to help. At Harrisburg, 
which was in tlie utmost danger, there was confu- 
sion worse confounded ; the troops arriving hourly, 
the inhabitants of the neighboring villages and 
the denizens of the scattered farm-houses crowd- 
ing in by hundreds, until there was neither food 
nor shelter to be had ; the frightened townsfolk of 
Columbia burning their beloved bridge over the 
Susquehanna ; while State and Federal authorities 
were at odds about the terms on which the volun- 
teers were to be accepted. In the midst of all this 
came the news that the General in command of the 
Army of the Potomac had resigned ! Who could 
hope that he Avho snatched the reins from the hand 
of the falling charioteer could guide the car ir.tc 
the track again, and bring it victorious to the 
goal? It was said, indeed, that the whole army 
was pressing forward by forced marches, but the 
enemy was at our very doors, and we watched in 
awful suspense to see if help would come in time, 
or the ranks of our militia, with all who were too 
old, too young, or too feeble to go to the war, would 
meet the shock of Lee's grim soldiery, and be 
shivered to atoms. 

Newhall at this time Avas Acting Assistant Ad- 
jutant-General of the First Brigade, Second Di- 
vision. 

" Camp near Aldie, June 26th. We see by the 
papers that German town is ' reassuring the army' 



HOME INVADED. 109 

again ; that's right. We have had hard work and 
sleepless nights lately enough to need recruiting. 
For two weeks I have been quite under the weather, 
but my constitution has pulled me through. The 
cavalry begins to hold up its head a little, and the 
infantry men who witnessed the late sJcinjiishes, 
treat us with as much respect as they have at com- 
mand for anybody. We see by the papers that 
the First City Troop have been taking some priso- 
ners without loss; if Gilbert," (his eldest brother,) 
"had a hand in it, please send us his account of 
the affair." 

" Ridgeville, Maryland, June 29th. We crossed 
the Potomac three days ago ; since then have been 
marching night and day, Stuart flying about in all 
directions. You had better write to the City Troop 
boys to sleep with one eye open." 

This was the last news, until word came that 
General Meade had engaged the Southern army, 
and Newhall's parents knew that he and his two 
brothers were fighting for life and death at Gettys- 
burg, while three others who had gone out with 
the militia were in hourly peril of annihilation. 
The tremendous battle raged for three long sum- 
mer daj'S, days that seemed as if they would never 
end, while the sun blazed down from a cloudless 
sky upon the bloody earth. With the third night 
came the news of victory, a glorious victory, and 
the morrow, which was the Fourth, was celebrated 



110 WALTER S. NEW HALL. 

as a high and solemn festival, long to be remem- 
bered by the whole nation. But one twelve-month 
before, we had kept that day in dust and ashes, 
awful tidings coming in hourly from the broken 
army in the Peninsula ; but one day before it had 
seemed that all the misery and despair of the pre- 
vious year would be light to the destruction that 
was coming swiftly upon us. And now the whole 
land was lifting its voice to sing, " Thy right hand, 
Lord, is become glorious in power ! Thy right 
hand, Lord, hath dashed to pieces the enemy." 

The undertone of lamentation which must for- 
ever mingle with such rejoicings was lost in the 
universal paean of that day, but the light of many a 
heart had been quenched forever, and even where 
the angel of death had forborne to strike home, he 
had left ghastly reminders of his presence and 
power. While Newhall's parents were still un- 
certain what had been the fate of their six sons, 
the following telegram Avas received: "Baltimore, 
July 6th. Am slightly wounded. Leave at 10 
o'clock for home. W. S. N." And a few hours 
later Walter arrived, severely wounded, and weak 
from the loss of blood. 

On the first day of the battle he had not joined 
in the fight. On the second he had been actively 
engaged in supporting batteries. On the third he 
was employed in the various duties of a staff 
officer, when a heavy body of cavalry made a 



HOMEINVADKD. Ill 

violent attack on General Gregg's position on the 
right wing, endeavoring to turn that flank, with 
the hope of creating confusion in our rear, and of 
damaging: our trains and communications. It was 
vital to repel this onset, and our troops made a 
stubborn resistance. But the enemy advanced 
rapidly, and some important guns were in mo- 
mentary danger of being taken. Newhall was 
sent to order a portion of the Third Pennsylvania 
Cavalry to their support. On reaching his regi- 
ment he found that so many men had been forced 
to fight on foot and in the woods, that but three 
officers and sixteen men, a fragment of his friend 
Captain Treichel's squadron, were mounted, and 
ready to move on the instant. Not a second was 
to be lost. He briefly explained his orders to this 
small party, and hurried them on to the attack. 
Being on the staff", it was no part of his duty to do 
more than deliver the order, but to do less than 
share the danger was not in his nature. They 
were hidden from sight in a little valley, whence 
they gradually rose to the top of a hill, not fifty 
yards from which a regiment of the enemy Avas in 
full career against a portion of our line, just then 
in confusion. The little band instantly charged 
this vastly superior force, breaking through the 
flank, and creating a diversion just at the decisive 
moment. Out of what had been disorder, a steady 
line of our men now advanced, and the golden op- 



]12 WALTER S. NEWHALL. 

portunity of the rebels was lost. Only a score of 
the Third had ridden down upon the enemy, and 
but six of these noble few escaped unhurt. New- 
hall had made straight for the battle-flag, and rais- 
ing his sabre charged like a thunderbolt upon the 
color-bearer, but the latter suddenly lowered the 
spear-head of the banner, and struck his antagonist 
full on the chin with terrible force, shattering his 
jaw, tearing his cheek to pieces, and knocking him 
senseless from his horse. When he recovered his 
consciousness, he found himself lying between the 
two lines, a shell occasionally bursting near him. 
His wound was bleeding profusely, his arms were 
gone, and he had been evidently left for dead. He 
found, however, that he had strength enough to 
Avalk, and hastened towards our lines. Coming in 
at a point where there was some slight confusion 
under a very hot fire, he rallied the men, who were 
becoming unsteady, and then made the best of his 
way to the rear to find a surgeon. There he was 
joined by his friend Charles Treichel, who, since 
they had ridden into the fray together, in the 
morning, with all the fire of their first charge at 
Springfield, had lost a horse, had his arm shatter- 
ed by a ball, been taken prisoner, and made his 
escape. Late in the day Newhall's brothers found 
them both lying in a little farm-house, among their 
companions in the charge. Walter was exceed- 
ingly lame and bruised, in consequence of the fall 



HOME INVADED. 113 

from his horse, and his wound was so stiif and 
swollen that he had the greatest difficulty in articu- 
lating, but he was in high spirits over the victory. 
In a day or two he was well enough to be moved, 
and was sent home. 

His strength soon began to return, and his 
wound slowly healed. He had a happy summer 
among; the favorite haunts of his childhood and 
youth, in the midst of his family and the old 
friends Avho thronged about him, showering kind- 
ness and attention upon him in every form. !N^o one 
who saw him then can ever forget him, with his 
athletic form, his pale, indomitable face and its 
ennobling scar, his earnest eyes, his grace, his 
modesty, and his singular reserve, which gave a 
peculiar interest to one so young and so gallant. 
He was as full of spirits as ever at home, but he 
had an inveterate dislike to meeting strangers, and 
though courteous, he was always extremely silent 
with them. Those two months of uninterrupted 
contentment and companionship, were a blessed 
boon, and will remain forever a precious memory 
to those who were ere long to lose him. By the 
end of August he had not entirely recovered his 
strength, and was ordered to the sea-shore for a 
few days. He left home most unwillingly, but 
came back perfectly restored, and immediately 
declared his intention of returning to the army. 
His leave had not yet expired, and he was en- 



114 W A LTER S. NEWHALL. 

treated to stay at least a week longer, but one day 
was all that his aiFection would concede to his 
sense of duty. He felt that he was needed at 
camp, and he bade a last farewell to those dear 
ones, who, though they knew it not, were to see 
his face no more. 



CHAPTER VIIL 

THE GUERRILLAS. 

" Oh ! bravely came we off, 
When, with a volley of our neeilless shot, 
After such bloody wit, we bid good-night." 



"A territory. 

Wherein were bandit earls and caitiff knights, 
Assassins, and all flyers from the hand 
Of justice, and whatever loathes a law." 

The excessive and unbroken heat of the summer 
gave way, at last, to the freshness of the fall. 
There was an unusually cool September, bright and 
dry, and the two following months were perfectly 
beautiful. The clear, temperate weather was 
turned to account by the army, and fierce battles 
were fought through the golden autumn days, in 
which our troops were vmiformly successful. No- 
vember brought good news from the West, where 
our forces had gloriously retrieved the first failure 
at Chattanooga, and Thanksgiving-day was kept as 



■jjrr:i£^ 



THE GUERRILLAS. 115 

the Fourth of July had been. About the same 
time, Jefferson Davis ordered a day of general 
humiliation and prayer, to be held throughout the 
rebel states. Disunion comes before us in no 
sadder form than this. How short a time ago our 
people offered up their prayers as one, and the 
whole land fasted or gave thanks together, through 
all its length and breadth ; now, when one-half is 
shouting a Te Deum, the other answers with a De 
Profundis ! 

Newhall was still acting as Assistant Adjutant- 
General, which gave him many new duties, but he 
found or made time for frequent letters to his 
family. 

" September 10th. Arrived at Headquarters, 
Cavalry Corps, half an hour ago. Find Fred first- 
rate ; shall remain with him to-night, and go up to 
our headquarters in the morning. Had about as 
much trouble in getting back to the army as most 
people have in getting away from it. We are 
posted about two miles from Warrenton, on the 
railroad." 

" September 11th. Have been eating and sleep- 
ing ever since I got back to duty, and am sleepy 
now, very. Shouldn't wonder if I remained in 
this torpid condition for some time." 

" September 12th. Returned last night from a 
raid to Middleburgh. It was reported that Mr. 
Moseby was in that neighborhood, but we had no 



116 WALTER S. NEWIIALL. 

luck. I came to the conclusion that hunting guer- 
rillas with four regiments of cavalry and four pieces 
of artillery, was very much like shooting mosqui- 
toes with a rifle, — very mashing to the little bird 
if you hit him. We break up camp this after- 
noon." 

" Slaughter Mountain, September 15th. After 
leaving our camp near Warrenton, we crossed the 
Rappahannock near Sulphur Springs, and en- 
camped just outside Colonel Gregg's Brigade. At 
four o'clock A. M. on the 13th, we took the road 
and forded the Hazel River, the Second Brigade in 
front. As we approached Culpeper, the enemy 
disputed the ground a little. Hearing Buford on 
our left, however, they didn't allow themselves to 
remain very long in any one place. As we ad- 
vanced in three columns, the rebels were a little 
mixed, which General Kilpatrick took advantage of, 
and ordered up the Michigan Brigade (Custer's) 
to charge ; they captured about one hundred priso- 
ners and three guns. At Culpeper our columns 
joined. We halted for half an hour, but debouch- 
ing at the other side of the town, Ave commenced 
Avorking our several ways toAvards the Rapid Ann 
River, one division towards Rapid Ann Station, Bu- 
ford on our left, toAvards Raccoon Ford, and Kil- 
patrick still further doAvn the river. Our brigade 
noAv took the advance, and it Avasn't long before 
Ave went from skirmishing to battery firing, and 



THE GUERRILLAS. 117 

tlien to break-neck charging and regular bull-dog 
fighting. The brigade worked to a charm, and our 
battery of four light twelve-pounders did splendid 
execution. Our first position was a little rough; 
nine horses were Avounded, and two drivers killed, 
belonging to one piece, while it was taking position. 
Just at this moment the First Pennsylvania was 
reported in want of ammunition, which, as they 
were skirmishing, was rather bad, but the guns 
opened Avith grape and cannister, and the Sixth 
Ohio on the right of the road, the First Massachu- 
setts and Third Pennsylvania on the left, and two 
squadrons of the First Rhode Island in the road, 
charged and carried the enemy's position Avith 
small loss. This Avas a magnificent sight, and the 
General could not help saying ' Beautifully done.' 
We pushed them Avithin a mile of Cedar Mountain, 
Avhere Ave encamped for the night. All yesterday 
Ave Avere feeling their position over the Rapid Ann 
River. This is a second Fredericksburg, only that 
a much stronger natural defence is found here, in 
the crescent shape of the hills overlooking the 
fords. To-day Ave hold our line in front of the 
ford. Skirmishing all day, no serious attacks made 
by either party. To-night, heavier firing ; our 
loss probably not more than seventy, including one 
officer Avounded. Weather good to-day. Am very 
Avell, as Avas Fred the day before yesterday." 
This Avas the battle of Cnlpeper Court-house, 



118 WALTER S. NEWHALL. 

" September 16th. Evening. All -well. Firing 
much easier to-day. Enemy don't want to cross 
our way, it seems. Still think this route imprac- 
ticable, in spite of General 's fuss with 'Eight- 

ino; Joe Hooker' about it." 

"Near Culpeper, September 20th. The night 
before last, I met Ered, and as it was the first 
time since we parted at Warrenton, of course we 
enjoyed ourselves. He would have stopped with 
me all night; but as I am living on charity, Eitz 
Lee having captured my blankets, I couldn't very 
well accommodate him. It Avas just as well, how- 
ever, for the bedding was very Avet, and we took 
steam dry-rubs instead of sleep that night. We 
had passed the night before in pure, unadulterated 
misery, on account of the rain, which fell in tor- 
rents. We posted ourselves, in stooping positions, 
in the middle of a little fly, and took turns in 
holding on to the poles, to keep the thing from 
blowing away. Imagine Avhat a plight ! If you 
throw a bed-quilt over a clothes-line, and peg the 
ends down about seven or eight feet apart, you will 
have a pretty good representation of a fly. Now, 
then, if you can remember the worst rain-storm 
you ever saw in your section of the country, and 
add to it the streams from half a dozen steam fire- 
engines (I'll throw in our fountain and a shower- 
bath), pelting their mist horizontally along in 
three directions, converging on the spot occupied 



THE GUERRILLAS. 110 

by your fly, you ^vill have a very fair idea of what 
the Virginians call a rain. There's your tent, and 
there's your storm, and where' s your man to get 
Avet ? Don't all speak at once ! 

" It's not that I'm after complainin'. This sort 
of thing don't last forever, and when once out of it 
we feel jolly. Love to all." 

" September 21st. Would you like to know what 
we think of ourselves ? The following tells the 
whole story. 

"Headquarters, First Brigade, 

Second Division, Cavalry Corps, 
September 20th, 1863. 

" General Order No. 14. 

" Officers and soldiers of the First Brigade : The 
commanding officer of this brigade takes the jfirst 
opportunity Avhich has presented since your glori- 
ous advance from Culpeper, to express to you his 
unqualified admiration of your conduct in the en- 
gagement near Culpeper, and of your subsequent 
conduct near the Rapid Ann Station. It is some 
satisfaction for you to know that on Sunday, the 
13th inst., you fought the severest fight that the 
corps was engaged in that day, and it is his great- 
est pride and pleasure to bear witness to your great 
gallantry on the occasion. Under the most galling 
fire you advanced impetuously on the enemy's line, 
and in one half hour's time, you occupied their 
chosen position. No troops could haVe done bet- 



120 WALTER S. NEWHALL. 

ter. There are no exceptions, for all acted as 
veteran soldiers of the First Brigade. You did 
noblj. Your conduct on that day has proved to 
the enemy your superiority, and entitles you to the 
best Avishes and gratitude of your country. You 
have won an enviable reputation. 
" By command. 

" Colonel J. B. McIntosh. 
"Walter S. Newhall, 

" Captain and A. A. A. G." 

" Catlett's Station, September 25th. Very busy 
guarding the railroad." 

" Hartwood Church, October 5th. Here we are 
back again, among these ' mean, tobacco-leaf, lying 
critters ;' ugly women, and pale-faced men, Avith 
long uncombed hair, slouch hats, bushy whiskers, 
and eyes of a lynx. Virginia gentlefolk ! We 
arrived here yesterday noon, and immediately sent 
five of our six regiments on picket along the Rap- 
pahannock River. The cattle didn't come up to 
time, and a detachment was sent in search of them. 
This party met a sutler's wagon about five miles 
out, guarded by three civilians and two Jersey men. 
Returning shortly afterwards discovered the wagon 
stuck in the mud, nobody near it, and most of the 
goods confiscated. Being Massachusetts men, they 
immediately suspected that it wasn't all right, and 
drawing their breath, revolvers, sabres, carbines, 



THE GUERKILLAS. 121 

and reins, thej contemplated the destruction of a 
Jerseyman, and above all, a 'soldier's friend,' 
with tears in their eyes, and mixed potations of 
'fighting whisky,' and 'brandy for medicinal pur- 
poses,' in their stomachs. As soon as these sympa- 
thizing fellows realized the enormity of the enemy's 
wickedness, they put spurs into their horses, and 
riding over every obstacle, arrived safely in camp 
with the story of this disaster, all begging to 
be sent back with the party that was to recover 
what the guerrillas hadn't had time to streak with. 
Early this morning a detachment of the First Mas- 
sachusetts and the Provost Guard, Avas despatched 
to recover the lost goods, and if possible, to catch 
some of the pillagers. They returned about 11 
o'clock, with their arms full of smoked beef, canned 
fruits, tobacco, cigars, and gingerbread, and two 
prisoners in tow, — sweet-looking chaps. They had 
been caught napping after their jollification, and 
were fourteen times more innocent than the babe 
unborn. They actually grew angry because we 
hinted that they didn't look it. On being ques- 
tioned, one fellow ' didn't mind statin' as far as he 
knowed, beyond that he couldn't say, for fear 
of implicatin' somebody that Avas as innocent as 
himself:' 

" ' I was passin' Joel Spencer's house on this 
side, — wasn't it, Joel?' 'Certainly it was.' 'I 
believe I said the other side, — I believed it was.' 
9 



122 WALTER S. NEW HALL. 

(This looked badly for liim, but he soon took a 
steady gait, and went straight through, until his 
tears broke him up.) ' I saw one of your gentle- 
men in the road, who told me a sutler's wagon had 
broken down in the road, and been abandoned, that 
I'd better help myself, you know, before it fell into 
worse hands. There was m}^ family, gentlemen, 
Avife and six children, almost starved, on the one 
hand, and there, abandoned and stuck in the mud 
close by, and contents a rottin', was a sutler's 
wagon on the other. Self-preservation has its dic- 
tates, gentlemen, under some circumstances, and 
I'm not ashamed to say, that that wagon being 
broke down and gone away from, and my family 
not havin' tasted anything but corn-bread for three 
weeks, (and sparse at that,) I'm not ashamed to 
say, I helped myself; not that I wish to keep you 
all from havin' what I took, but merely for the 
sake of keepin' my family up ; (that's what 1 said, 
ain't it, Joel ?) and the way those things happened 
to be locked up was this : I said to my "wife, " Wife, 
you'd better stow away them sweets, for fear the 
children might get sick ;" remarkin' at the same 
time, that we were in no condition to pay the 
doctor's bill. Now, gentlemen, I reckon that that 
upset was a providential thing. I hope you won't 
think hard of a man for providin' for the family 
that God gave him.' Convulsive sobs, and a pro- 
fusion of tears, which, however, were checked when 



THE GUERRILLAS. 123 

the other chap (who, according to his friend, was 
more fool than knave,) opened his mouth with a 
perfectly contradictory story." 

The guerrillas had grown to be more than a nui- 
sance, — they had become a scourge. Men must 
be debased, indeed, before they can carry on Avar- 
fare in so dishonorable and dastardly a mode. The 
spy is held in such ill-repute that a gentleman will 
hardly take the post. He does not wear the uni- 
form, and if captured, dies a felon's death. Yet 
the discredit of such service does not weigh for an 
instant against the ignominy of the guerrilla's. 
Acknowdedging no law, civil or military, admitting 
no claim of society or humanity, recognized by no 
party, protected b}'^ no flag, attacking and killing 
unarmed men, adding the shame of theft to the sin 
of murder, he is a disgrace to the cause he espouses. 
Eastern Virginia is infested with these wretches. 
They shield themselves behind the sham of a quiet, 
humble life, frequently feigning ill-health, and 
sympathy with the North, assembling in bands to 
make their cowardly assaults by night, on solitary 
sentinels, and parties too small for resistance, leav- 
ing no live man to tell tales, and dispersing to their 
miserable abodes, and pretence of inoffensive, loyal 
characters. There is a l«ng list of brave victims 
unavenged, to which new names are constantly 
being added, while these despicable assassins con- 
tinue to ply their trade with impunity. Newhall's 



124 WALTER S. NEWHALL. 

elder brother, Captain in the Sixth Pennsylvania 
Cavalry, wrote from his camp at Hartwoocl Church, 
during the autumn of '63, "I haven't seen Walter 
since we came across the Rappahannock, and Avould 
call on him, but to go in safety from here to his 
headquarters requires a retinue of more men than 
I care to employ on such a long ride, not on oflficial 
business. The guerrillas betAveen here and there 
rule the roast with everything much less than pla- 
toons. The phlegmatic Army of the Potomac isn't 
going to bother its head about a few guerrillas, so 
they are allowed to pursue their pleasing devices. 
As an army, we regard guerrillas as the ox did the 
fly on his horn. We say, ' Stay if you wish ; it don't 
inconvenience us.' If they burn a bridge, we re- 
build it. If they kill an officer, we say it Avas a 
beastly mean trick. If they capture a sutlers' 
train, we ask, ' How are you^ sutlers ?' and are rather 
glad of it ; and if we catch them, we hear the inno- 
cent stories of their honest lives, and the Provost- 
Marshal-General gives them a pass to go where 
they please." 

Walter himself writes of them : 

" October 8th, We are in the vilest neighborhood 
imaginable, full of guerrillas, whom we try in vain 
to catch. My notion of«them is founded on these 
facts : nobody ever saw one ; they leave no tracks, 
and they come down upon you when you least ex- 



THE GUERRILLAS. 125 

pect them. Why shouldn't there be flying infantry 
as well as flying artillery ? Answer me that." 

During the next ten days he was constantly in 
action, and had no time to write. He took part in 
the severe fight of his division at Sulphur Springs, 
on the I'ith of October, and in the battle of Bristoe 
Station, on the 1-ith, as Avell as in several skirmishes 
while his brigade was assistino; to guard the wagon 
trains during the march to Centreville. 

"Near Fairfax Station, October 17th. We are 
busily engaged in picketing along Bull Run." 

"October 23d. The rebels haven't all crossed 
the river yet. Yesterday Colonel Gregg had a 
brush with them near Bealeton. Second Pennsyl- 
vania Cavalry did well. We stood by and ' reas- 
sured' the Second Brigade, but didn't participate 
personally. Haven't had writing opportunities 
since the movement from the Rapid Ann. We've 
been constantly on the move, — from Morrisville 
and Hartwood Church on October 11th ; Sulphur 
Springs and Fayetteville on the 12th ; Auburn on 
the 13th ; Bristoe Station and Brentsville on the 
14th ; Wolf Run Shoals on the 15th ; Fairfax 
Court-house on the 16th and 17th ; Bull Run on 
the 18th and 19th ; Fairfax Station on the 20th ; 
Centreville and Gainesville on the 21st ; Warren- 
ton on the 22d, and are now encamped on the old 
ground." 

" Sulphur Springs, October 31st. My birthday. 



126 WALTER S. NEWHALL. 

Twenty-two. How old Tm grov.ing ! I shall soon 
be a confirmed member of the bachelor corps. 
We are encamped in a splendid grove, which the 
proprietor says was handed down to him from his 
great-great-grandfather, and he therefore begs us 
not to cut any of the trees for firewood. Colonel 
Taylor reminds him that he, the proprietor, is one 
of a set of rascals who are endeavoring to destroy 
a government that has been handed down to us in 
the same manner, and begged that he would not 
think it any disrespect to his ancestor, if we declined 
freezing to death just now. The Colonel was a 
little rough, but he is so full of patriotism he could 
not help it." 

"November 1st. We may move in a day or two. 
I shouldn't much wonder if we attempted the 
turning of the enemy's left, forcing him across 
the Rappahannock at the lower fords, with one 
corps occupying the line of the Rapid Ann, 
crossing the Rappahannock at United States' 
Ford above and joining our forces, meet the re- 
bels on the Chancellorville ground. This is my 
first attempt at strategy, but I make bold to say, 
that if the main points of my plan are carried 
out, we could find a way to Richmond, which Avon't 
be of nature's providing. We of the Army of 
the Potomac are somewhat in the same fix as the 
small boy, who was required to shoot a tom-tit and 
a squirrel with one load of No. 1 shot, thus : small 



THE GUERRILLAS. 127 

boy and No. 1 shot, Army of Potomac ; torn-tit, 
Washington ; squirrel, Richmond, — do you see ?" 

"Bealeton Station, November 8th. We moved 
down here yesterday, and are now guarding wagon 
trains. Yesterday the Sixth Corps took thirteen 
hundred prisoners and a battery of artillery. Ge- 
neral French at Kelly's Ford caught about five 
hundred more. Everything quiet this morning." 

"November 11th. Picketing the neighborhood 
ofWarrenton. No news." 

" November 19th, I have just finished reading 
in Blackwood's Magazine an account of what an 
' English officer' has the unblushing impudence to 
call the Battle of Gettysburg. Ten pages are de- 
voted to a very interesting ride on a sore-backed 
horse, four to the battle, and eight to the difficulty 
of passing into the Yankee lines — even with Ge- 
neral Lee's pass. Why didn't the fellow get into a 
o-ood position during Longstreet's movement ? then 
he could have told us something we didn't know. 
No news. I hear of moving, but not officially." 

"November 22d. I can't pass Sunday quietly 
in camp without writing home. I have only to say 
that I'm alarmingly healthy. If necessary, in cor- 
recting the report of Moseby's capture, to use my 
name, you are authorized to do so." 

" Morrisville, November 24th, 10 p. m. We are 
on the move again, bound 'for Richmond and a 
market,' of course." 



128 WALTER S. NEW HALL. 

" Plank-road to Orange Court-house, November 
27tli. All well. Fighting pretty heavy ; also our 
loss. All our friends safe." 

This was the battle known as Mine Run or the 
Wilderness, the latter being tlie expressive name 
given by the inhabitants to the spot Avhere it was 
fought, being part of the same tract in which our 
army had been so cruelly cut to pieces six months 
before, at Chancellorville. On this occasion, only 
the cavalry and one corps of infantry Avere engaged, 
and that with entire success, although unfortunately 
great loss of life and no results, owing to the fail- 
re of the general movement, of Avhich this was 
part. 

"Near Stevensburg, December 5th. Here we 
are, resting after our little trip over the Rapid Ann. 
We cover a picket front of only fifteen miles, which 
is mere sport, — good practice for cavalry. Sup- 
pose I tell you what Colonel Taylor says of the 
doings of his bi-igade among ' Mr. Lee's folks,' and 
as he is a straightforward man and a pious, you 
can rely on the truth of his statement. Here it is. 
' My brigade, proceeding from Whitehall, on the 
27th of November, struck the Orange and Fred- 
ericksburg Plank-road near Parker's store, at 8| 
A. M., and marched in front of the Fifth Corps 
iTarmee toAvards Orange Court-house. At 11 
o'clock my advance drove in tlie enemy's pickets 
and first line of skirmishers near Mount Hope 



■ ' "*" ■iMi*ii*rw«<i 



THE GUERRILLAS. 129 

Church ; here the enemy's line was strengthened, 
and it became necessary to dismount three of my 
squadrons, in order to dislodge him from the thicket 
of pine-trees and the railroad, where he was strongly 
posted. This duty was well done by two squa- 
drons of the Third Pennsylvania Cavalry, and one 
of the First Massachusetts Cavalry. During the 
clearing of this woody country, the enemy used 
grape and cannister without effect. A section of 
Martin's Sixth New Jersey Battery opened on the 
enemy's guns, and the squadrons already men- 
tioned having been reinforced, drove the enemy 
from his cover, charged across the open space 
beyond, and occupied the edge of the opposite wood, 
putting to flight several squadrons of rebel cavalry. 
The enemy now advanced his infantrj'^, and in ten 
minutes my line was heavily pressed, with the ex- 
ception of the supporting regiment (the Sixth Ohio), 
and a few minor supports. The ground being im- 
practicable for cavalry, I threw my entire com- 
mand dismounted against the enemy, repelled his 
charge, took his position, and captured thirty-four 
infantrymen, including a captain, with their arm?, 
&c., besides killing and wounding a large number. 
During this time the enemy opened with artillery 
from three positions, keeping Martin's Battery 
actively engaged. For about an hour the enemy 
was steadily driven back, the tAvo lines being within 
twenty paces of each other. The officers and men 



130 AV ALTER S. NEWHALL. 

of m}'' command behaved with extreme gallantry. 
The surgeons of the brigade were untiring in their 
exertions to alleviate the sufferings of the wounded. 
My line was engaged until 4| p. m., when, my am- 
munition giving out, I was relieved by the Fifth 
Corps." 

"The squadrons," already mentioned, were 
Charley Treichel's and Captain Walsh's of the gal- 
lant Third, and Captain Crowninshield's of the 
First Massachusetts Cavalry. 

Newhall liimself commanded Captain Treichel's 
squadron in this battle ; but he never spoke of it. 
nor w\as it known until after his death, when Cap- 
tain Treichel (who had been fighting with one arm 
ever since Gettysburg) came home, to pay the last 
sad tribute of respect to the inseparable friend and 
companion of his whole military career, and find- 
ing how the story stood, set it right. 

" As usual, I had prime luck. Every ^.cknow- 
ledgment is due to Providence, I know; but I can't 
help paying my noble steed, 'Tim Whiffler,' a pass- 
ing compliment, for the style in which he brought 
me from heliind the rebel lines, where I had been 
idiotic enough to get, during one of their attempts 
to yell our men out of countenance. We are 
ordered to Brandy Station, in the morning." 

"Brandy Station, December 7th. I had forgot- 
ten that you would feel interested for Lieutenant 
Longfellow, of the First Massachusetts Cavalry. 



THE GUERRILLAS. 



131 



lie has gone to Washington, on his way home, 
serionsl}^ hut not dangerously, wounded. Colonel 
Taylor and I were just heside him when he was 
shot, during a fierce attack by our friends the 
rebs: but as he walked oiF by himself without a 
whimper, Ave concluded he would soon be all right 
again." 

" December 10th. The infantry hereabouts are 
building log-huts, indicative of a change of camp, 
although at first sight it does not appear so. We, 
poor cavalrymen, have to carry everything on our 
horses, now that our mules ha^'e been turned in." 

" Warrenton, December 13th. We marched from 
Bealeton Station yesterday, and appear to have 
settled down at last for winter quarters, much to 
the delight of citizens hereabouts, who look for- 
ward to innumerable and jolly raids by their favor- 
ite cut-throat, Mr. Moseby. Even now, from the 
tops of the neighboring mountains, his hungry 
followers are looking down upon our weak points. 
How many fruitless mud-raids Ave shall make after 
them this winter, time even will have difficulty in 
telling. I know the programme by heart : ' Suc- 
cessful attack on wagon-trains; Moseby off with his 
plunder. Nobody hurt.' That's how it will be. 
Three or four weeks ago, I joined a regiment in a 
' hounding' expedition after a party of these guerril- 
las, who, having captured part of a wagon-train, 
Avere making their way to the deserted Avilds of 



132 WALTER S. NEWIIALL. 

Thoroughfare Gap and Salem. We struck the 
trail at three in the afternoon of a very rainy day, 
and galloped in pursuit until 8-^- P. M., when we 
discovered that the trail divided into about twenty 
minor paths, leading up hills, down ravines, back 
through dark pine woods, and everywhere. How- 
ever, we surrounded a house in the immediate 
neighborhood of our discomfiture, and, on looking 
in, our delighted eyes feasted on the forms of five 
or six of Moseby's beauties, who were enriching 
as many young ladies with all sorts of sutler's 
trinkets, from gold^ hat-cords down to cakes and 
candy, with perfect disregard of expense. It was 
delightful ; only I was afraid we shouldn't get 
anything if we didn't shoot first, and ascertain the 
facts of the case afterwards. The Colonel couldn't 
think of such a thing; so a party was sent round 
to the front door to knock! Before the echoes of 
their thumping had died away, every light in the 
house was extinguished, even the fires, all the doors 
and Avindows were simultaneously slammed and re- 
slammed, five women screamed at the top of their 
lofty lungs, two dinner-bells were violently rung 
from garret windows, several pistol-shots were fired 
into us, and the majority of the rascals got off". 
In a moment all was quiet enough, and on forcing 
the doors we found the young ladies panting with 
excitement, but highly delighted with the escape 
of those 'dear men.' We caught two in an old 



..dIMftltfMtt 



THE END. 



133 



clothes-basket, 'where there wasn't anything but 
Ma's wash.' We picked up a very suspicious-look- 
ing hat, Avith a long black feather in it. Don't 
tell anybody that Mr. Moseby had just left that 
hat to be called for when wanted; and don't be- 
lieve that I am at all disheartened. I can't help 
feeling that the result Avas what might have been 
expected." 



CHAPTER IX. 

THEE ND. 

" With trembling fingers did we weave 

The holly round the Christmas hearth ; 
As rainy clouds possessed the earth, 
And sadly fell our Christmas eve." 

" Brief, brave, and glorious was his young career. 
***** 
For he was Freedom's champion, one of those, 
The few in number, who had ne'er o'erstept 
The charter to chastise, which she bestows 

On such as wield her weapons ; he had kept 
The whiteness of his soul, and thus men o'er him wept." 

Christmas whs drawing near ; the army was 
inactive ; and many of the officers Avere applying 
for leaA'e of absence to spend the holy-tide Avith 
their families. Both the Newhalls had the hope 
of going home, Avhere all the sons Avere to meet 
once more for the first time in vears. On the 



134 WALTER S. NEWHALL. 

evening before leaving, Walter made up his com- 
pany accounts, choosing, with characteristic fide- 
lity, to put everything in order, in anticipation of 
even so short an absence. The next morning, 
the 18th of December, he left his camp, to pass 
the night at headquarters with his brother, and 
start for home the next morning. He was in the 
highest spirits as he bade his companions good-bye 
and rode ofi", followed by an orderly. Before 
reaching the Rappahannock, he was obliged to 
cross a small stream, one of those little runs which 
intersect that country in every direction, and such 
as he had forded and swum a hundred times. It 
had usually very little depth or width; but recent 
heavy rains had swollen it considerably, and con- 
verted the bottom into a morass. He plunged in; 
but about midway his horse became mired, and 
began to struggle. Walter instantly perceived 
the danger, and waved to his orderly not to follow. 
He then quietly attempted to quit his saddle to 
swim to shore ; but as he was in the act, his fright- 
ened horse reared and fell over upon him. There 
was one moment, one supreme moment, before he 
disappeared ; and he called to his orderly, in a 
calm, clear voice, " Go for my brother !" and sank. 
His body was recovered in half an hour; but it was 
only his body. His unfortunate brother, who was 
looking for him to talk over their plans for the 
holidays, took his corpse home to their parents. 



'«tfB 



THE END. 135 

Over their grief drop the veil. The news of his 
death fell upon the whole community as a sore 
calamity, and the Christmas of every household in 
the country-side was darkened. The letters Avhich 
poured in from every direction, not to his family 
alone, but to all his friends, proved how widely he 
was known and valued, and how deeply all who had 
ever seen him felt what his loss must be to those 
among whom he had lived. The expressions of 
private sympathy, in such an hour, must needs be 
genuine and heartfelt. Wherever a father and 
mother are mourning over their son, there is the 
same sorrow that has always been since the first 
parents mourned over the first dead child. But 
the tributes of regard and respect to the memory 
of the dead, as well as to the grief of the living, were 
such as no ordinary man could have called forth. 
The lamentations of his early playfellows, of those 
who had seen him grow up, of his brother officers, 
were only natural; but the distress of numbers 
who had seldom met him, or had only heard him 
spoken of, and the profound regret of his superior 
officers, were the best and highest proofs of his 
worth. There is a letter, one of very many, which 
is not out of place here, since it casts a light back 
upon his character, being Avritten to a friend of the 
family by one who did not know them, — by one 
who, though he sees many men, and saw Newhall 
but seldom, was struck by him as a man apart. 



136 AV ALTER S. NEW HALL. 

"Washington, D. C, 

December 19th, 1863. 

" My dear Sir : It was with great regret that I 
heard of the death of Captain W. S. Newhall, of 
our cavalry. I recollect him well during the night 
march from White Oak Swamp to James River. 
He brought to General Franklin a message, and 
returned with one to General McClellan. It was 
considered a hazardous mission, and I recollect the 
hairbreadth escapes he made from capture on that 
occasion. Since that time I have but rarely seen 
him, but I shall never forget his appearance, his 
calm, resolute face, on that eventful night. In 
losing him, the service has lost a valuable officer 
and a brave soldier. 

" I am, very truly, 

" Your obedient servant, 

" Win. S. Hancock, 

"Major General, Volunteers." 

All the superior officers of his division bore testi- 
mony to his high military merit, in letters too full 
of private feeling for his recent loss, to meet any 
eyes but those to whom they w-ere addressed. But 
two months afterwards General Averell, his former 
Colonel, wrote of him in terms of praise, which 
from a man of his character and position, is the 
fullest endorsement of all that has been claimed 
for NeAvhall in this sketch. 



■^JLf^.-..",V'".M 'ffV!!-. !'^*uiii.,^.jj,,.w. . .•,m , m '^. 



THE END. 137 

" Martinsburg, Va., 

February 21st, 1864. 

"My dear Sir: I desire to lighten, 

if possible, the burden of your great grief, by telling 
you that the loss of your noble son is not only felt 
heavily by me, his first Colonel, but by all his 
comrades in arms. While the service has lost one 
of its most promising officers, you have thrown into 
the yawning chasm of Secession, a priceless jewel. 

" I pray that you may have the consolation of 
believing that the hideous gulf has been narrowed 
by the sacrifice. 

" While we grope our Avay toward the solution of 
the greatest problem ever presented to humanity, 
these dreadful afiiictions render our cause more 
sacred, and our purposes more steadfast. 

" It will be long ere the cavalry of the Army of 
the Potomac forget Walter Newhall. His cha- 
racter was a model for all who had the pleasure of 
knowing him. It is difficult for me to say wherein 
he lacked of being perfect. He was without fear, 
and certainly without reproach. Dignified with- 
out affectation, reticent, but not taciturn, his 
graceful but impressive manners charmed all who 
ever saw him smile. In the execution of orders 
he never hesitated, and he possessed that rare 
quality in an officer, the power of inspiring his 
men with perfect confidence. 

" His purity and his principles had a living force, 
10 



138 WALTER S. NEW HALL. 

which made itself felt throughout his command. 
It is yet felt, and he still lives, not only with his 
comrades, but with 

" Your friend and servant, 

" Wm. W. Averell, 

"B. G." 

The grief in his regiment was only second to 
that in his home. Each man mourned for him as 
for a brother. The following order, issued by com- 
mand of the Colonel commanding, is only the ex- 
pression of the sorrow felt by all. 

" Headquarters, First Brigade, 

Second Division, Cavalry Corps, 
January 8th, 1864. 

" Special Order, l^o. 54. 

" Officers and soldiers of the First Brigade : It 
is the painful duty of the Colonel commanding, on 
returning to the command, to announce to you the 
sudden and unexpected death of Captain Walter 
S. Newhall, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General of 
this Brigade, which, through the All-wise Disposer 
of events, occurred December 18th, 1863. 

" In the death of this officer, our country, the 
service, parents, and friends, have sustained an 
irreparable loss, in one possessing a modest and 
unassuming nature, and principles the perfect soul 
of honor ; combining the qualities of the thorough, 
efficient officer, the brave and gallant soldier, the 



THE END. 139 

finished and courteous gentleman, and the exem- 
plary Christian. 

" The Colonel commanding, impelled by a com- 
mon sorrow, a grief, personal to all who knew his 
worth, unites with you in the deep sorrow you feel 
in the loss of your comrade, and cannot resist on 
this occasion to bear testimony of his high appre- 
ciation of the many virtues which he possessed ; of 
his fearless courage, his ready and willing disposi- 
tion, courting labor, and never shrinking from its 
most trying hardships, but by example and ability 
inspiring those Avith whom he came in contact. 

"And while all acknowledge the just and guiding 
Hand of our destiny, we mourn the blasted pro- 
raises of his brilliant career. 

" By command of Colonel J. P. Taylor. 

"J. ri. Beale, 

" Captain and A. A. A. G." 

Walter S. Kewhall was buried at Laurel Hill 
Cemetery, near Philadelphia, on the 22d of De- 
cember. The escort and usual military honors 
were declined by his family, but his bier Avas borne 
by his Colonel and five brother ofiicers, four of 
whom were old playmates and companions in his 
first essay at arms, at Chestnut Hill. A crowd 
of men of all ages and callings, clergymen, sol- 
diers, men of business, and men of pleasure, fol- 
lowed him to the grave, and all in tears. The 



140 WALTER S. NEWHALL. 

regular assistants at that melancholy place, said 
that they had never witnessed such grief in all 
their sad experience. His coffin was filled and 
covered with flowers as if he had been a child, and 
no child Avas ever laid to rest whose life had been 
purer than his. 

His character showed all the gifts of a noble 
nature, and all the graces of a Christian life. What 
need is there to dwell upon his virtues ? His 
story tells them, and they will live in the hearts 
of all who knew him, until they, like him, shall have 
put on immortality. 




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